The record-union., 1899-05-28
Attention Now Drawn to the Cars
Peace Conference.
The American Commissioners Come in for
Much Favorable Comment.
Their Proposals Gall Forth Com
ment in London Newspaper Cir
c1es-The Prominence Given the
Arbitration Question at Once
Captures the British Mind.

1oS5, Ny <ASSOSldlSO I-IcSS.l
LONDON, May 27.-The holidays
have brought stagnation in politics.
Most of the public attention has been
directed to The Hague peace conference
and the Anglo-American commission.
The papers warmly approve Of the uni
SON of the work with American and
British delegates at the conference, and
interest in it is quickened by the prom
inence Unexpectedly given to the arbi-
tration question, especially in view of
M. De StaaIs speech revising the order
of the points submitted from the circu-
lar of the Russian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Count Muravieff, giving arbi-
tration the first place, and making only
a minor reference to disarmament
which was at first blazoned as the main
purpose of the conference
The Cars scheme, presented on Fri
day, is very elaborate and detailed,
while the American project is attractive
by it's businesslike brevity and simplic-
ity.
The Daily News correspondent at
The Hague says it appears to give a
satisfactory solution of the problem pre-
sented by the Czar, and that Great
Britain, of course, will support the
American project. The scheme of Pro-
fessor Martens, professor of interna-
tional law at the University of ST.
Petersburg and arbitrator of the Anglo
Venezuelan arbitration commission, is
said to contain the code Of procedure
which VII be adopted by the Venezue-
Ian arbitration tribunal at any rate.
Three of the five judges have decided
to conduct the trial under its rule when
the tribunal meets in Paris
Referring to the proposal which the
American delegates are now pressing
to exempt all private property at sea
from capture, the Daily Chronicle
presents the British view in saying:
The matter is grave. AS many con-
tend, Great Britain yielded more than
was wise when she accepted even the
Paris rule. However. the House cf
Commons has always declined to coun-
tenance amy idea of withdrawal, and if
America will come in and sign the dec
laration, which she practically invoked
inl the Spanish war. it will be a material
advance in the humanizing of war"
George w. Smalley, New York CORE
spondert OF the London Times" is the
author of letter this week upon the
iniquity of the New York custolnhouse
officials, and the papers here comment
hurnorously on the subject. The
Speaker says: 1T seems that there
is no remedy for the distress of the
traveller, but "a gratuity which, Collector
Bidwell says, is not a bribe. If he can
form trust with unlimited funds upon
which the customs officials can be GUAR
tered as pensioners, as all possible and
impossible veterans of the civil war are
quartered on the national purse. then
ladies may be treated by the officials
Of the republic with almost as much
dignity as if held for ransom by bri-
gands.''
Particulars received regarding the
famine in Russia confirm the previous
narrowing accounts. The members of
the Russian aristocracy seem to have
at last awakened to full sense of the
gravity of the situation and money is
beginning to flow in on all sides for the
relief of the starving Moujfks. Unfor-
tunately, charity is almost too late. The
censor at first prevented the truth from
being published by the Russian press.
Now that the facts are allowed to ap-
pear, the famine spectev is stalking
through the land. Some authorities es-
innate that as many as 100000 peas
ants are starving. The Rev Mr.. Fran
els, pastor Of he British American
Church at st. Petersburg, who did
much to secure British and American
aid during the last famine, appeals to
the British public to-day. He says
seven provinces, covering 10000 square
miles, are affected. and that 5000. 600
people are famine stricken and will
need food during the next three months.
He adds that the Gar, Czarina. Rus
sian Government and the Red Cross and
other bodies have subscribed MANY
millions of roubles, but that T.. 25O 0O1
is still require l.
The "Statist" says an attempt is be-
ing made in London to raise a Russian
railroad loan of $1,000. 900 at ( ner
cent, and at an issue price of 90. The
paper then advises the investors not
to furnish Russia with money to carry
on her anti British policy in China"