The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-19
PEACE CONFERENCE,
Opening, Session at the Hague Yester-
day.

The Hague, May 1S.-The peace confer
encs called by the Gar of Russia was
opened at 2 o'clock this afternoon, 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 minister of foreign affairs
of the government of the Netherlands de-
livered the inaugural address and well
coined the delegates.
Nj. de Beaufort spoke of the high honor
of the choice of The Hague as the meet
ing place for the conference and extolled
the noble initiative of the Gear, saying
this would be a red letter day in the his
tory of the country and expressed the
hone that his majesty would be able to
look back at today as the most glorious
day of his life. He concluded with CALI
ing attention to the allegorioal group
over the doorway of the hall, Peace enter
ing to close the temple of Janus, and
said:
81 trust this beautiful allegory will be
q good augury of your labors and that
after you have completed them you will
be able to say that peace whom art intro
duced into this hall, left 1t to speak its
blessings among the whole of humanity"
NJ. de Staal, the Russian AMBASSADOR to
Gr,at Britain, and head of the Russian
delegation, in formally assuming the
presidency of the conference, said his
first duty was to express to nj. de Beau
fort his sincere gratitude for the noble
terms in which he had referred toshls
august master.
Continuing, M.de Staal said: "Though
to the Gar Is due the initiative of the
conference, We owe much to the Queen
of the Netherlands for inviting us to her
capital. 1t is happy augury of success
haxy mat hon Cyltn of
the young sovereign whose charge is felt
in a wide circle, whose heart Is open to
everything great land generous, and
who has displayed such sympathy with
the cause which brings us here"
After 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:
~ cannot consider my election other
wise than that inspired by my position
as plenipotentiary of the Emperor VINO
was the initiator of the conference. On
this ground l accept with deep gratitude
tie distinguished honor and l shall use
every endeayor to justify your confidence.
But am perfectly aware that advanced
age is, alas, sad privilege and a weak
auxiliary. But / hope that it will at
least constitute calm upon your indui-
leenoe."
After making his address, NJ. de Staal,
in behalf of the conference. telegraphed
to the Queen of the Netherlands as fol-
lows
The members of this conference, as
sembled fof the first time in this beauti-
full Huis len Bosnhe, hasten to lay at
thekfeet of yoursmajesty their hest wishes.
pray you to accept their homage and
gratitude for the hospitality you have so
gracefully deignsd to Offer"
The reading of the message was warm
ly applauded.
NJ. de Beaufort was appointed honorary
president and the leading Dutch dele
gate, A. p. G. Van Karnobock, d. L..
former minister of foreign affairs ana
deputy. was appointed vice president.
After the appointment OF nine secretaries,
Nj. de Staal's proposal that the sessions
be seer ct, was adopted.
The next session will take place ON Sat-
urday when the delegates will arrange a
programme and'sappoint committees.
The conference then adjourned.
The session today lasted only 25 min
utes and the apparent unanimity dis
played was considered to augur well for
tho OutcOme.