Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-20
rHE PEACE CONFERENCE.
Committees Will Consider the Three Groups
Of Questions Presented.


The Hague, May 1p.-The chiefs Of
the different delegations of the peace
conference met, today, under the pres-
dency of the president Of the confer
ence, M. Staal, the Russian ambassa-
dor to Great Britain, for the purpose
of discussing the business to be tram
sacted, tomorrow.
Berlin, May 19-The Cologne Ga
zette, today, in publishing sketch of
the American delegates to the peace
conference at The Hague, praises the
tact of President Mckinley in avoiding
the appointment of political favorites.
and says of the Americans: They are
well known and universally respected
men of great capacity in their profess
sions and honorable gentlemen Of
blameless regulations"
The meeting. at which Mr.. Andrew
ID. White, head of the United States
delegatnion. and Sir Julian Pauncefote,
head of the British delegation, We're
present. resulted in an agreement to
appoint three committees to deal with
the respective groups of questions pro-
posed for discussion. namely, disarma-
ment. law of warfare. and mediation
and arbitration. With view of facili-
tating the appointment of the COM
mittee it was agreed that each Grief
delegate should nominate those of his
own delegation who might be desired
to appoint to the respective commit
tees so that each nation should be rep
resented upon all. Probably the COM
mittees will meet. next Tuesday or
Wednesday, or organize and TO arrange
procedure.
The opinion of a majority of The
delegates seems to be that the general
scheme to be presented to the confer
ence. tomorrow, has been conceived
in broad and liberal light: and the
result of this meeting of the delegation
chiefs is regarding as demonstrating
the good will and conciliatoriness of
all the delegates, as well as a common
desire TO facilitate the labors of the
conference. Perfect harmony has pre-
vailed thus far regarding all questions
brought forward.
At tomorrow's session NJ De Staal
will read the replies of Emperor Mich
olas and Queen Wilhelmina to the dis
patches sent Their Majesties at the
opening of the conference after which
he will deliver an important speech up
on the work of the conference and will
propose the adoption of the general
scheme arranged, this morning. The
various delegations met this after
noon, to assign their members to the
grand divisional committees. Tomor-
rows session and all subsequent ses-
sions will be secret.
London, May 2o.--Tne Daily Tele-
graphs correspondents at The Hague
says: THE chairmanship of the arbi-
tration section. / understand. has been
offered to and accepted by Sir Julian
Pduncefote, who with the delegates of
the United States and several other of
the minor powers. will insist upon
permanent international court of arbi-
tration, which will be the great sue
cess of the conference"
The correspondent of the Morning
Post at The Hague telegraphs as fol-
lows: AN eminent member of the
peace conference says it is simply an
act of politeness to the Car and will
yield no practical result. simply be-
cause it cannot. The powers. he as
serts, are too disunited and watch each
other to closely to arrive at any un-
Outstanding in their progress HIS
prediction is that there will be Ions
discussion and then 'frst-class burial
of the Cars proposals.
Berlin. May 19.-The Independence
Beige publishes an interview with
Prof. Rudolph Virchow, the leader of
German Liberalism. on the subject of
the peace conference in the course of
which he is represented as having said.
Disarmament is in the air. Soonef
or later it will be realized by all ma
tons under the law of development.
The programme of Emperor Nicholas
is comprehensive and complicated; but
the fact that the powers accepted his
call is significant enough.
One factor in the situation IS the
weakness of public opinion. Nations
are led astray by a deceptive idea of
glory and honor. The United States
has lately offered pitiable example
Of that. A civilized land has plunged
in to war by the criminal agitation 81
brainless demagoges and the incapac-
ity of rulers. The United States has
sinned against humanity and civiliza-
ton.
Let us hope that the Americans
have at last recovered from their rou.
IF intoxication and will redeem the er-
'crs of their country. All this. is an IL
ustration of the difficulties confronting
the conference but it will not matter
f success is finally attained. The con-
ference, believe, will deepen the study
Of peace problems and the new CEN
Jury will be an age of real eulighten-
nent, civilization and peace