The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-05-20
DOES NOT LOOK FOR DISARMAMENT
Cxar Expects No such Utopian Re.
suit Frol the Conference.

Gar Expects No Such Utopian Re.
suit From the Conference.
Washington, May 17s-Great interest
is being manifested by officials of the
administration and members OF the.
diplomatic corps in the proceedings of
h peace conference. which will begin
ut The Hague Thursday.
A positive denial is given at the state
department to the story that the Unit
ed States and Great Britain have
agreed to cooperate in urging the con-
ference to adopt Il plan of internation-
al arbitration. No identical instruc-
tions have been given and nothing has
been done by either government look
ing to joint action. but it is more than
likely that the American and British
delegates will act in harmony on the
general principle of international arbi-
tration. 1t is the ambition of the Me-
kinley administration to have the con-
ference adopt its plan of arbitration
the formation of q permanent tribunal
to which disputing nations may refer
controversies, binding themselves in
such an event to accept the decision
of that body. There is to be no com
pulsion with regard to disputes, and,
in fact, the president would not agree
to bind this government to refer TO o
tribunal of this character any partleu-
lar kind of disputes.
The American delegation w.ll also
make every effort to have the confer
cnce adopt amendments to the treaty
OF Paris of 1856 designed to further
protect property not ~contraband OF
war during hostilities.
Cars Modest Expectations.
Count Cassini, the Russian mba
sador, is an enthusiastic advocate OF
the conference, which in itself he re-
CARDS as u public recognition by all
nations of the necessity 10 preserve
peace and ameliorate the hardships in
cidQnt to war. Speaking of the confer
ence he said:
Though the results of the coming
conference at The Hague may not be
all that the czar desires, L am conf
lent that the meeting will be the be-
ginning of II grand movement promo
tive of the peace and civilization of the
world.
Each country which has been in
vited to participate has responded by
the selection of its ablest men to rep
resent it OF this important occasion.
NJ. de Staal, the Russian ambassador
in London, who will be ut the head of
the Russian delegation, is an excep-
tionally brilliant man, moderate. we'll
%intentioned and with wide experience,
and l have no doubt that under his di-
rection some satisfactory results will
follow the meeting.
ut is an error to say that the Rus,
sian government expects the several
nations of the world to agree to dis
arm. No such proposition will be sub
United to the conference. What will
be proposed is that further armament
stop-that the air-brake of common
II be applied.
1T is appreciated by the czar, as
much as by other rulers, that it would
be impossible to obtain the consent of
all governments to complete disarma-
ment, but he believes that the ruinous
competition between nations to obtain
the strongest armament should stop,
and he hopes n step in this direction
will be taken at the coming confer.
ence.
1.-THE question of armament will be
but one of many important matters
which will be brought to the attention
Of h conference. / am glad to see the
United States are taking such an earn
est interest in the purposes of the con-
ference, and especially in the question
of international arbitration. Though
little may be done with reference to
armament, l feel sure that some salts
factory agreement will be reached un-
der which disputes may be submitted
to arbitration by a court of judicial,
fair-minded men, instead of to the ar
bitrament of the sword. Even though
this were the only result of the con-
ference, a great step would be taken
In the direction of a higher civilization.
The conference will also consider the
~desirability of amending the treaty of
Paris of 1856 and ~amcliorating the
hardshiPs of war, not only for nom
combatants. but for participants.
II would like to add that the invita-
tions given were extended to all the
representatives Of nations represented
at st. Petersburg. Because of the alb
OF representatives of the South
American countries. invitations for
them to participate in the conference
were not sent. Mexico was represented
at st. Petersburg by a charge daft
flares. and received an invitation. but
I am not sure that President Diaz has
appointed q representative.
ITO my mind, the coming confer
ence is of itself an indication of the
high plane of civilization upon which
the world stands today, and l am
hopeful that the action there taken
will mark All advance, which, however
small, cannot but be in the interest of
peace and of the welfare of all the ma:
tions of the earth"
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