The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-21
Change That In Supposed to Have
Been Brought About by the Atti.
tude of Anglo-Americans.
BARON DE STALLS SPEECH
HOW OUR DELEGATES HAVE BEEN
ASSIGNED ON COMMITTEES.
Alaskan Boundary Dispute-English-
0ry - General Foreign News.

THE HAGUE, May 20.-The second sit
ting Of the peace conference took place this
morning and lasted thirty-five minutes. The
president of the conference, Baron De Staal,
read the replies of the Car and Queen Will
helmina to the kilograms sent to them by
the conference on Thursday. The president
then addressed the delegates on the subject
of the labors before them, and it was de-
cided not to publish the speech.
The president proposed the adoption OF
arrangements for the committees, which
was agreed to without discussion. Baron
De Staal further proposed that, although
the principle of secrecy should be main
tanned, communications might be made
through the press bureau, subject to the
approval of the president. This was also
adopted. NJ. De Staal placed the question
of mediation and arbitration in the fore
front during his speech. The question OF
the laws Of war rendering war as humane
as possible by the extension Of the regula-
tions already existing was then touched on
by the president, and he relegated the ques-
ton of the reduction of armaments to the
third place. This indication modifies the
order in which the three points were placed
in the circular Of the Russian minister OF
foreign affairs, Count Muravieff. but it has
the merit of corresponding more closely to
the views of the delegates, and 1t is now
considered certain mediation and arbitra-
tion will have the chief place In the work
of the conference. Further. the opinion is
unanimous that the American and British
delegates will take the most important part
in the study of this question.
The conference decided to-day that all del
egates, including the technical representa-
tives, are to participate In the sittings ard
join in the discussions The date of the next
sitting has not yet been fixed. 1t depends
on the progress which will be made by the
committees. NJ. De Staal announced to-
day the government of the Netherlands
would give an artistic fete on June 10 IN
honor of the conference.
At the conclusion OF the conference to-day
D. De Staal, Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British ambassador at Washington, and the
head of the British delegation, and the
United States ambassador at Berlin. Mr..
Andrew d. White, head of the American
delegation with several Of the other dele
gates, returned to The Hague for lunch. But
M. Bourgeois. former premier of France.
and head of the French delegation. and al
most all the second technical delegates who
form part of committees. remaining at the
House in the Woods to draw up certain
lists. They were occupied also with the or
ganization of the committees.
The proceedings to-day passed off with
out any incident, only the president spoke.
the others manifestng their appreciation by
slight direct murmurs. Several of the chief
delegates are leaving The Hague for a few
days pending the preliminary work Of the
committees.
Baron de Staal, during the course Of the
day. received the following dispatch from
st. Petersburg: THE Emperor begs you to
be the interpreter to the conference of his
sincere thanks and warmest wishes. My
august master charges me to impress upon
your Excellency how much his Majesty is
touched by the telegram addressed to him."
The message was signed "Muravieff."
The American members of the committees
are as follows: Disarmament Messrs.
White. Mahan and Crozier; laws of war,
Measrs White. Newell, A.ahan and Crozier;
arbitration, Messrs. White, Low and Hollis
The committees will meet for the first time
on Tuesday. The eight points enumerated
in Count Muravieffs circular for their con-
sideration have been distributed among the
committees.
They are as follows: The disarmament
committee will consider: First, the limita-
ton Of expenditures; second. the prohibition
of new firearms; third, the limitation of the
use of explosives; fourth. prohibition of the
use Of submarine boats. The committee on
laws OF warfare will discuss: Fifth, the ap-
plication OF the Geneva convention to naval
warfare: sixth, the naturalization of vessels
in an engagement while engaged in saving
shipwrecked men during and after naval
engagements: seventh, the revision or the
declaration of Brussels Of 1874 on the noti-
fications and customs Of war. The commit
tee on arbitration and mediation will deal
with the eighth question of Count Mura-
vieff's circular.
The British members of the arbitration
committee are Messrs. Pauncefote and
Howard.
Sir Julian Pauncefote gave dinner this
evening to some of the delegates.