The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-05-19
CARS CONFERENCE.
Rome of the Powers Likely to Favor
Disarmament.
RUSSIA PARTICULARLY MlSTRUSTED
The Programme That Will BE Considered
VIII Deal Chiefly with international
Arbitration and the Provisions
of the Geneva Convention.

London, May i5.-There is no longer
the least doubt that the original object
of the ear in summoning the peace
conference. which meets next Friday
at The Hague, will not he secured No
European state entertains any illusion
on the subject of either reduction or
limitation of ornaments. After conf
dental exchanges of opinion the pro-
gramme of the conference has been
modified with the approval of the Rus
sian government.
Any question affecting ornaments
will be discussed, if at all. merely in an
academic way This is the result not
only of mutual suspicious among the
great powers, but particularly of the
mistrust they all feel as To Russia.
Count Won Munster, German ambas-
sador to France, one of Germauy's del
egates. has explained in the course of
the preliminary interchange of views
the motives that prevent Germany
from consentiug to either reduc-
ton or IA limitation of her military
or naval strength The reason is
the grievance of France toward Ger
many, German official organs are careful
not to take a cynical attitude. but
the great body of non-oflicial news
paper opinion in Germany is even more
scornful than it was six weeks ago with
respect to disarmament. The week has
witnessed remarkable OutburSt on
the part of the educated men of Ger
many against any suggestion to weaken
International defenses. Men of the high
- . 10
the most outspOlten, and the diplomatic
hint from Russia that Prof. Won Stem
gel, one of Germany's delegates. ought
to be withdrawn because of his pam
phlets defending war, has not been
deemed worthy of the slightest consid-
Grafton.
So far as questions affecting military
and naval organizations come before
the conference, they will be discussed
only in general terms. which in prac-
tice would place no restrictions upon
any powers Something must be done,
however, to save the prestige of
Nicholas, as an absolute collapse would
be an affront that would seriously
diminish his prestige. Under such con-
ditions, the various foreign officers
have cast about for questions, in deal
ing with which some practical results
might be attained, and the programme
to be considered will deal chiefly with
international arbitration and the pro-
visions of the Geneva convention. In
the settlement of both the United
States will undoubtedly take the lead
ing role, closely seconded by Great
Britain. There will be little or no
difference as to broadening the terms
of the Geneva convention. II is capa-
BILE of improvement. and something
would have been attempted in this di-
rection quite irrespective of the con
ference. Some of the clauses will be
modified and others will be added.
Those in position to forecast results
believe these will proceed on the fol-
lowing lines: The extension of the
convention to warfare by sea; neutral
ization of the wounded, with guaran-
tees for their protection ON the field of
battle by special police, and improve
ment in ambulance and Red Cross
work, together with adequate arrange
ments to identify the wounded and to
exchange prisoners These results
could have been attained without sum
moning AN assembly of such proper
tions, but their attainment by the con
ference will supply some practical re-
suits without which the proceedings
would be ridiculous.
Extension of arbitration to the set
Element of international disputes prom
Uses To he much more difficult problem.
The chief obstacle will be the defn-
tion of plan acceptable in practice to
IA controlling majority of the confer
ence. The most encouraging symptoms
Sre the fact that something in the ma
spect to Samoa, the fact that the cars
father and grandfather frequently
agreed to act as arbitrator, and the
fact, more important than the
others, that the United States
and Great Britain, who have done
the most to put the principle into
practice, will be found in harmony in
urging some project broad enough to
allow of Il workable adjustment of de-
tails later on. Here in London the
most that is expected is, first, the ac-
ceptance of the principle and then an
agreement upon an international tribu-
nal of some character, to which nations
may or may not resort as their sense
of national interest and dignity may
dictate. Presumably the conference
will not try to define the disputes that
are proper subjects for arbitration.
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