The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-27
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
Very Little that Is Practical VIII Be Ac-
complished.
ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION PRINCIPLE
In said to Have Becn Accepted ms n
Good One, but There VIII De
No Disarmament.

The Hague, May Pet can now be
stated with some degree Of confidence that
the delegates to the peace conference are
gradually arriving at the belief that It's
outcome will be very much what Andrew
d, White, United States ambassador at
Berlin, and head Of the American delega-
tion here, forecasted to tho correspondent
Of the Associated Press in the interview
cabled to the United States last Monday.
So far rs ornaments are concerned, the
utmost that r is expected to accomplish
are some slight recommendations to the
governments participating
The various committees have now set
tied down to work and the delegates have
begun formal exchange Of views. 1t was
decided today to appoint committees TO
receive all suggestions, proposals and petit
lions emanating from outsiders. But so
Jar as ascertainable, these will be pigeon
holed without any consideration-unles
they come within the purview of the
questions enunciatod In the circular of
Count Muraven the Russian minister OF
foreign affairs, in outlining the subjects
Tor consideration.
The disarmament committee met this
morning and M Bernaert, chief of the
Belgian delegation, who presided. set
forth the points submitted for considera-
ton The two sections Immediately d.
vided and proceeded to a discussion OF the
question Of firearms and explosives, which
continued until the hour for adjournment
The arbitration committee met this af-
terneon under the presidency of the chief
of he, French delegation, Leon rnrge0is.
who was one OF the honorary presidents
OF the committee. NJ, Bargeois presented
the questions OF mediation and arbitration
and suggested a programme the committee
might follow, urging recourse to all pa
citic means to settle international ques-
tions without recourse TO war He sub
mitted a long list Of possible subjects OF
dispute which might arise between ma
tions and yet might find solution in arbl-
tration, closing with the more difficult
problems. He then presented a scheme
introduced 10 The conference by a Rus
sian delegate, a scheme consisting Of
forty articles. The statement of NJ Blr-
geois was clear and concise commanding
the closest attention,
Recognizing that the committee was too
large % consider the Russian proposals,
NJ Borgeols presented a subcommittee
This arrangement gives representation to
all the great powers as well as to Holland
Belgium and Switzerland
Great importance Is attached TO the
meetings held today aud to the unanimous
acceptance Of the general principle OF
arbitration and mediation
London May 27.--The correspondent OF
the Daily Telegraph at The Hague says:
Peace prospects touched a high water mark
today when the conference found itself
face to face with arbitration in a praeli-
cable and acceptable form, and as.s per-
manent International achievement. This
honor Is mainly Que to Sir Julian paunce-
fote. When the members of tho arbitrn
ton section had finished reading The Rus
sian proposals on this subject. Sir Julian
expressed his complete approval OF tham
but said II would be a great pity If the
conference failed to embody the principle
OF arbitration In some permanent shape.
now beg TO propose" he said, the
lorna! establishment of a permanent arbi-
rauon tribunal empowered to deal with
an matters In dispute capable of reference
10 the judgment of an umpire. | do not
intend 10 trouble you with details as to its
mechanism today or until you accep the
principle OF my proposal, Therefore ask
you ia accept ale principle now"
NJ. DeStael az once declared sir Julian
PauncetOte having presented his proposal
we are prepared TO supplement and COM
plete the printed suggestions just distrb-
uted by others dealing With permanent
arbitration board
ThereupOn the Russian president of the
conference drew a paper from his pocket
and laid Il upon the table then and there
The paper containing the foundation of q
permanent tribunal, suggesting the sub
siitutlon of a net clause and referring
to an appendix not yet drawn up, The
amazed delegates crowded around Sir Jul
liam congratulating him on having played
the winning card, which had so quickly
precipitated the Russian alternative
scheme Some stood aghast, as the matter
was not contemplated in their instructions.
to subcommittee.
The Americans, It is believed, are elab-
Grating an organic statute for the erection
of permanent tribunal which will be laid
before the conference and be supports 1
by the British delegates, when the princi-
pie embodied in Sir Julian's proposition is
accepted.
London. May 27.-Tho morning papers
prominently discuss The future OF the
Anglo American commission with an ap-
parent desire to paeify both Canada and
the United States though strongly dis
Inclined to give the colony any lack OF
moral SUPPORT
London, May 27,~The correspondent Of
the Daily News at The Hague refers TO
the PROPOSAL Of an arbitration board as
1T --- ------s---------
f.CTL Tl IL