The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-05-19
AT THE HAGUE
Peace Congress Called at the In
stance OF the Car Begins Its
Conference.
NJ. De BaufOrt Called the Con-
gresS to Order and Spoke
Briefly.
NJ. De Staal, Russia's Principal
Representative, Accepts the
Craftsmanship.
Telegram Of CongratulatiOn Upon
His Birthday Anniversary
Sent to the Car.

THE HAGUE, May l9.-The peace con-
ference called by the czar of Russia was
opened at o'clock p. IN. 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. minister Of foreign affairs for
the government of the Netherlands, de-
livered the inaugural address and well
coined the delegates.
NJ. De Baufort spoke of the high
honor Of the choice of The Hague as the
meeting place of the conference and ex-
tolled the noble initiative of the car,
saying this was red letter day in the
history and EXPIRE ng the hope that his
majesty would be !. de to look back at
today as the most glorious day Of his
''fe. He concluded with calling atten-
ton to the allegorical group over the
doorway of the hall. Peace entering to
close the temple Of Janus, and said:
Il trust this beautiful allegory will
be good augury of your labors and
that after you have completed them
you will be able to say that Peace, who
art introduced into this hall. left it to
spread its blessings among the whole of
humanity.
Concentrated the Gar.
The delegates decided to send the
following telegram to the czar:
The peace conference lays at the feet
of your majesty its respectful congratu-
! lations upon the occasion of your birth
!, day. and expresses its sincere desire t
cooperate in the great and noble work
in which your majesty has taken gen
erous initiative and for which its beg:
YOU TO accept its humble and profound
found gratitude"
NJ. DE Staal Speaks.
NJ. De Staal, the Russian ambassador
to Great Britain, and head Of the Rus
sian delegation, informally assuming
the presidency of the conference, sale
his first duty was to express to NJ. d.
Beaufort his sincere gratitude for th'
noble terms in which he had referred t
his august master, adding that hi
majesty would be deeply touched a
well by the spontaniety with which tn
high assembly had associated Herewith
Continuing. NJ. De Staal said:
Though to the car is due the initia
tive of the conference, we owe much t
the queen of the Netherlands for invit
ing us to her capital. 1t is happ
aupury of the success that we have me
under the auspices of the young sovel
eiyn whose charge is felt in wild
circle whose heart is open to everythin
GREAT and generous and who has di.
played such sympathy with the caus
which brings us here. 1t is on the hi
, F,oric soil of the Netherlands that til
greatest political problems have bee
} discussed. Here is the cradle of scienC
and international law.
} After reference to the historic peac
, treaties concluded at The Hague, an
' expressing regret that NJ. De Beaufol
, had not accepted the presidency of tt
: conference. NJ. De Staal said in concl'
ton:
t II cannot consider my election othe
y wise than inspired by my position
plenipotentiary of the emperor;who WI
the initiator of the conference"
"On this ground l accept with det
i gratitude the distinguished honor, al
II / shall use every endeavor to justii
your confidence. lam perfectly ava
y that advanced age is. alas, sad pri,
lege and q weak auxiliary, but hol
o that it will at least constitute clai
d upon your indulgence
It After the appointment of nine secl
l. taries. NJ. De Stalls proposal that Il
& sessions be secret, was adopted.
!. The session lasted only % minuts
II and the apparent unanimity display
!. was considered to augur well for t
outcome.