The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-27
AMERICAN PROPOSALS
Will Receive Consideration at the
Worlds Peace Conference.
ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION.

M. Bourgeois, President OF the Arbi-
tration Committee, Suggests n Pro-
gram Urging All Pacific Means 60
Prevent Recourse to war.
The Hague, May 27.--It can now be
stated with some degree OF confidence
that the delegates to the peace con-
ference 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 delegation here, fore
cast to the press correspondent In the
interview cabled to the United States
last Monday.
So far as armaments are concerned,
the utmost that Il is expected to accom-
plish is some slight recommendations
to the governments participating.
The various committees have now
settled to work, and the delegates
have begun a formal exchange OF
views. II was decided yesterday to ap-
point committees to receive all sugges-
tions, proposals and petitions emanat-
ing from outsiders but, so far as is
yet ascertainable, these will be pigeon
holed without consideration unless
they come within the purview Of the
questions enumerated in the circular
of Count Muravieff, the Russian minis
ter of foreign affairs. In outlining the
subjects for consideration.
The disarmament committee metye
terday morning, and NJ. Beernaert,
chief Of the Belgian delegation, who
presided, set forth the points submit
ted for consideration. The two sec
tions Immediately divided and pro-
| ceeded to a discussion Of the questions
of firearms and explosives, which con-
| tinued till the hour for adjournment.
The arbitration committee met in the
afternoon, under the presidency of the
chief Of the French delegation, Leon
Bourgeois, who was flanked blythe hon
| oTary presidents of the committee. Sir
Julian Pauncefote, chief of the British
delegation, and Count Nigra, chief of
the Italian delegation. NJ. Bourgeois
| presented the questions of mediation
and arbitration, and suggested a pro-
| gram the committee might foElow, urg-
ing recourse to all pacific means to set
tie international questions before a re-
course to war. He submitted a long
list of possible subjects of disputes
which might arise between nations
and yet might find solution in arbitra-
tion, closing with the more difficult
problems. He then presented a scheme
| already introduced to the full confer
ence by Russian delegate, a scheme
| consisting of 40 articles. The state
ment of M. Bourgeois was clear and
concise, commanding the closest at
| tention.
Sir Julian Pauncefote proposed that
the committee should Immediately
proceed, before all else, to consider the
question of a permanent tribunal of
arbitration. He did not, however, sub
NIT any plan, and eventually withdrew
his motion, in view of the suggestions
offered by Count Nigra and others,
who urged the wisdom of following the
program of the president, in which the
questions of permanent tribunal fol-
lows the general subject of arbitration.
NJ. Bourgeois observed that the COM
mittee, by not opposing 1t, gave adhe-
sion to the principle favoring q peace
full solution of international questions
before a recourse to arms.
Recognizing that the committee was
too large to consider the Russian pro-
posals, M. Bourgeois appointed the
following subcommittee: Chevalier
Descamps- David, of the Belgian dele
cation; Professor Asser, privy council
lor, of the Netherlands delegation;
Baron Estournelles de Constant, of the
French delegation; Frederick Hollis,
secretary of the United States dele
gates; M. Lamassch, of the Austro-
Hungarian delegation; Professor Maar-
tens, of the Russian delegation; Nj. e
Oder, of the Swiss delegation, and Dr.
Zorn, of the University of Konigsberg,
representing the German delegation.
Sir Julian Pauncefote and Count
Nigra were appointed honorary presi-
dents of the subcommittee, and M.
Bourgeois and NJ de Staal were en-
powered to attend its meetings.
This arrangement gives representa-
tion to all the great powers, as we'll a.
to Holland, Belgium and Switzerland
Chevalier Descamps-David was ap-
pointed chairman of the sub-commit-
tee.
Great Importance is attached to the
meeting held yesterday and to the
unanimous acceptance of the general
principles of arbitration and media
| tion.
Yesterday afternoon NJ. De Beaufort,
the Dutch minister of foreign affairs,
in the name of Queen Wilhelmina, pre-
sented to M. de Staal, president Of the
conference, the Grand Cross of the
Lion of the Netherlands.