Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-19
ASSEMBLE AT QUEEN
WILHELMINA'S CAPITAL.
DIPLOMATS PLY THEIR TRADE
HOLLANDS REPRESENTATIVE AP-
POINTED HONORARY PRESIDENT.
After Organization Was Effected an
Adjournment Was Taken Until
TO-morrow-SessiOn Will Be
Sccret-Czar Heartily
Congratulated.

THE HAGUE. May 1S-The peace con-
ference called by the car of Russia was
opened at o'clock this afternoon in the
hall of the ''huis ten bosch,'' or the house
in the woods" two miles from The Hague.
NJ. De Beaufort, president of the council,
minister of foreign affairs of the govern
ment of the Netherlands, delivered the in
augural address and welcomed the dele
gates.
NJ. De Beaufort spoke of the high honor
of the choice of The Hague as the meet
ing place for the conference, and eXtolled
the noble initiative of the ear. He said
this would be red letter day in the his
tory of the century, and expressed the hope
that Nicholas would be able to look back
at this day as the most gracious day of
his life. He concluded with calling at
tention to the allegorical group over the
doorway of the hall, Peace entering to
close the temple of Janus. and said:
II trust this beautiful allegory will be
good augury of your labors and that after
you have completed them you will be able
to say that Peace. whom Art introduced
into this hall, left it to spread her bless
ings among the whole of humanity"
NJ. De Staal, the Russian ambassador to
Great Britain. and head of the Russian del
egation, informally assuming the presi-
dency of the conference. said his first duty
was to express to NJ. De Beaufort his sim
cere gratitude for the noble terms in which
he had referred to his august master
Continuing, NJ De Staal said: Though
to the czar is due the initiative of the con-
ference. we owe much to the queen of the
Netherlands for inviting us to her capital
1t Is a happy augury of success that we
have met under the auspices of the youns
;,, fn1t 10
circle, whose heart is open to everything
great and generous and who has displayed
such sympathy with the cause that brings
us here It is on the historic soil of the
Netherlands that the greatest political
problems have been discussed. Here Is the
cradle of science and international law
After a reference to the historic peace
treaties concluded at The Hague. and ex>
pressing regret that NJ. De Beaufort had
not accented the presidency of the con-
ference. NJ. De Staal said in conclusion:
II cannot consider my election otherwise
than inspired by my position as plenipo-
tentiary of the emperor, who was the in
itiator of the conference. On this ground l
accept with deep gratitude the distinguish
ed honor and shall use every endeaVor to
Justify Your confidence. ] am perfectly
| aware that advanced age is. alas. a sad
! privilege and a weak auxiliary, but / hope
that it will at least constitute a claim upon
| your Indulgence"
Congratulate the Gar.
The delegates decided to send the fol-
lowing telegram to the czar:
The peace conference lays at the feet
of your majesty its respectful congratula.
| tionS upon the occasion of your birthday,
and expresses its sincere desire to cooper
ate in the great and noble work in which
your majesty has taken a generous initia-
| tive and for which it begs you TO accept its
humble and profound gratitude"
Replies to Bouquets.
After making his address, NJ De Staal in
behalf of the conference, telegraphed to
the queen of the Netherlands as follows:
The members of this conference assem-.
| bled for the first time in this beautiful
| huis ten bosch hasten to lay at the feet oi
| your majesty their best wishes, praying
| you to accept their homage and gratitude
for the hospitality YOU have graciously de.
| signed to offer them
| The reading of the message was warmly
| applauded.
NJ. De Beaufort was appointed honorary
president and the leading Dutch delegate
| A. p. c. Van Karnobeck, former mniste,
! of foreign affairs and deputy, was appoint
! ed vice president.
After the appointment of nine secretaries
NJ. De Stalls proposal that the sessions b,
| secret WAS adopted.
The next session will take place on Satur
! day, when the delegates will arrange pro
gramme and appoint committees.
| The conference then adjourned.
| The session to-day lasted only twenty-five
minutes and the apparent unanimty dis
played was considered to augur we'll for thu
outcome.