The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-19
The Peace Congress Called by the
Gar Of Russia
Meets in the Hall Of the Huis Ten Bosch,
Near the City of The Hague.
M. de Beaufort, President of the
Council and Minister of For
eign Affairs of the Government
of the Netherlands, Delivers the
Inaugural Address and We'll
comes the Delegates.

THE HAGUE, May 1S.-The peace
conference called by the Car of Rus
STA was opened at o'clock this after
noon 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 and Ministers of Foreign At
fairs of the Government of The Neither
lands, delivered the inaugural address
and welcomed the delegates.
| NJ de Beaufort spoke of the high
honor of the choice of The Hague as
the attending place for the conference,
and extolled the noble initiative of the
Car, saying this would be red letter
day in the history of the century and
expressing the hope that his majesty
would be able to look back at the day
as the most glorious day of his life.
He concluded with calling attention
to the categorical group over the door
way Of the hall, Peace entering to close
the temple of Janus, and said: L trust
! this beautiful allegory will be an
augury of your labors, and that after
you have completed them you will be
able to say that Peace, whom art intro
duced into the hall, left it to spread
it's blessings among the whole of hui
manity.''
The delegates decided to send the
following telegram to the Gear:
THE peace conference lays at the
feet of your majesty it's respectful con-
CALCULATIONS upon the occasion of your
birthday, and expresses its sincere de-
sire to cooperate in the great and
noble work in which your majesty has
taken a generous initiative. and for
which it begs you to accept its humble
and profound gratitude
NJ. de Staal, the Russian Embassa
dor to Great Britain and head of the
Russian delegation, in formally assum
ing the Presidency of the conference,
said his first duty was to express to M
! de Beaufort his sincere gratitude of
the noble terms in which he had re-
ferred to his august majesty. adding
that his majesty would be deeply
touched, as we'll by the spontaneity
with which the high assembly had as
ISOLATED itself Herewith.
Continuing, NJ de Staal said:
Though to the Car is due the initia-
tive of the conference, we owe much
to the Queen of The Netherlands for
| inviting US to her capital. 1t is d
happy augury of success that we have
met under the auspices of the young
sovereign whose charge is felt in a
wide circle, whose heart is open to
everything great and generous, and
who has displayed such sympathy with
the cause which brings us here. 1t is
on the historic soil of The Netherlands
he Orr-Go tact
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
expressing regret that NJ. de Beaufort
had not accepted the Presidency of
the conference. NJ. de Staal said, in
conclusion: Il cannot consider my
election otherwise than inspired by my
position as Plenipotentiary from the
empire which was the initiator of the
conference. On this ground 1 accept
with deep gratitude the distinguished
honor. and l shall use every endeavor
to justify your confidence. l am per-
fectly aware that advanced age is,
alas! a sad privilege and a weak aux
1 iliary, but l hope that it will at least
constitute a claim upon your indul-
gence."
After making his address M de Staal.
in behalf of the conference, telegraphed
to the Queen of The Netherlands as
follows:
The members of this conference. as
sembled for the first time in this beau
tiful Huis Ten Bosch hasten to lay at
the feet of your majesty their best
wishes, praying you to accept their
homage and gratitude for the hospi-
tally you have graciously deigned to
offer them
The reading of the message was
warmly applauded.
M. de Beaufort was appointed hon.
orary President, and the leader Dutch
| delegate, A P. c. Van Karnobeck,
former Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Deputy, was appointed Vice President.
After the appointment of nine Sec
retaries, M. de Staals proposal that the
sessions be secret was adopted.
The next session will take place on
Saturday, when the delegates will ar
rage a program and appoint commit
tees.
The conference then adjourned.
The session to-day only occupied
twenty-five minutes, and the apparent
unanimity displayed was considered to
augur well for the outcome.
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE TO THE
GAR.
WASHINGTON, May 1S-The fol-
lowing cablegram has been addressed
by the President to the Emperor of
Russia on the occasion of the opening
of the disarmament conferences:
Washington Cd. CO, May Is, 1885,
To His Majesty, Nicholas II. Emperor
of all the Russias, ST. Petersburg: On
this day of good omen l send nv
heartfelt congratulations on the open
ing of the conference at The Hague.
which had its origin in the enlight-
ened and generous initiative of your
majesty. WILLIAM MKINLEY"
Candidate for Reelection.
| DETROIT, May 1S.-At a conference