Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25
FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE
Hague Delegates Give Atten-
ton to Arbitration.
DISARMAMENT SENT TO THE REAR.
of First Few Days Has Given Way to
Belief that Serious Results viii BE
Rcached-The Method for International
Peace.

THE HAGUE, May 23.-Andrew q.
White, the United States ambassador
at Berlin and head Of the American
delegation, in an interview here with a
representative of the Associated Press,
said he regarded the situation as
promising and that the first work OF
organization will be wei! done He al
ded: 81 am hopeful that it will be
possible to reach practical conclusions.
The skepticism of the first few lays
must yield to serious hopes without at
the same time indulging in exaggerat-
ed expectations"
THE words of EmperorWilliam have
contributed to improve the situation.
l think we may arrive at some result
on the subject of mediation and arbi-
tration and, although 1t is undoubted-
ly impossible to make such action OBJ
ligatory, it can be rendered at least
optional and | believe that after the
conference the powers will recognize
that they have at their disposal
means of regulating their differences
otherwise than at war. That will De
an immense advantage.
II am also confident that important
improvements are achievable in the
laws and usages of war, to humanize
war, especially in extending to the ma
val battles the Geneva convention of
1864 and in increasing the protection
Of private property in naval wars
Relative to the reduction of arma-
ments, am not in a position to speak
on the subject
Other ambassadors who are dele
terviewed and expressed similar views.
They said they were most hopeful that
the deliberations of the conference
would result in the adoption of prac-
tical recommendation tending toward
peace and rendering war more hui
name. All were dominated by a sense
of immense responsibility to achieve
something especially in the direction
of arbitration. The delegates were
unanimously of the opinion that the
question of the reduction of armament
would be the most difficult to m9et,
and it is believed that it will be rele-
gated to the rear Of the other two fea
lures, especially since the special OBJ
ject of the conference is now acknow-
lodged to be an endeavor to establish
means for the solving of international
difficulties without recourse to war,
thus increasing the reality of wars and
as a natural consequence leading to
reduction of ornaments. They seemed
convinced, however, that numerous
difficulties of detail would arise in the
various committees and that the con-
ference will be protracted.
After an active exchange of views
during the last twenty-four hours, the
chiefs of the various delegations ar
rived this evening at an agreement re-
garding the selection of the presidents
of the various committees. This agree
ment will be communicated to the del
egates who have been summoned to
meet in plenary session at noon to-
morrow, for the sole purpose of for
mally confirming the agreement.
The disarmament committee of the
peace conference meets at 10 o'clock
on Tuesday morning, the committee
on the laws of warfare meets during
the afternoon of the same day, and the
committee on arbitration meets on
Wednesday. The first session of each
committee will be devoted to the cleo
ton of officers. The chiefs of the dele
cations have had frequent conferences
with the view of arriving at an agree
ment in regard to the choice of Off
GERS of the committees. Apparently
many difficulties have arisen. as
nothing has been finally settled. Many
false and exaggerated reports have been
circulated regarding these bitches. For
instance, it has been said that Count
Won Munster, the German ambassador
at Paris, and head of the German dele
cation, would withdraw from the con-
ference %vjuch stories must be received
with caution, as persons hostile to the
aims of the conference have been
busily engaged in spreading distrust.
The story about Count Won Munster
probably arose from the fact that his
name does not appear as a member of
any of the committees, while all the
other chiefs of delegations have Joined
one or more committees. But, it is
pointed out, delegates. although not
members of committee, are privi-
legged to attend its sessions and par
ticipate in the discussions.