New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24


acceptance of the overtures of the United States
Is evident. as is his confidence in the tangible
sood Which will ultimately result from ths pros
ioents initiative last October. The text Of the
note is as follows:
Department of State
ITO +,,o 1 Washington. Dec 16 1901
acnrod npI esehtatlves of the United States
Accreolted to the Governments Signatories
70 the Acts of The Hague Conference 1900
o, BY the circular instruction dated 0ctober
arcreSto 9he representatives of the United States
tooi Iou 10 the several governments which
I I9k part In the peace conference held a. Jrbn
at IN I IN 1873 and which Joined in signing the
az .l .lereo1 were instructed to bring 10 the notice
Oh these governments certain resolutions odnDtoS
~ me Hterparliamentary Union AT its annual
49, nee held at St Louis i'm September last
@oSSScauhg the assembling of a second nnace
OoIlerehce TO continue the work of the first ma
eo,,ernr,o. 70 ascertain to what extent those
were disposed to act in the matter
INVITATION WELL RECEIVED
The replies so far received indicate that a.,
proposition has been received viii .nLg
favor No dissent has found exnressios ii Sr,
governments of Austria Hungary Dor,,-riL-
bnrn NJ IerInany. Great Britain. Italy. Luxem-
nuis; mexico the Netherlands, Portugal Ru-
mama SPAN, Sweden and Norway and Sv,,itT
eLlanu exhibit sympathy with the purposes If
me proposal and generally accept it i'm nrin-
slple' win a reservation, in most cases of
future consideration of the date of the confer
eHce ana the programme of subjects for dis
cuss1on. The replies of japan and Russia Co
veyed in like terms a friendly ranoenjtior &c
the spirit and purposes Of the invitation but an
the part OF Russia the reply was accOmnantad
Dy me statement that in the existing condition
or things in the Far East il would not he nraC
ucaole for the imperial government at this
TI1ineAt 10 take part in such conference.
NhiIe thls reply, tending, it does to cause
some postponement of the proposed second con-
ference IS deeply regretted, the weight of the
motive which induces it is recognized nv +bie
government and probably by others Japan
made the reservation only that no action should
be taken by the conference relative to the pres
ent war.
Although the prospect Of an early convocatfon
OF an august assembly of representatives of the
nations in the interests of peace and harmony
among them Is deferred for the time being it
may be regarded assured so soon as the in
terested powers are in Il position to agree upon
date and place of meeting. and to Join In the
formulation of a general plan for discussion.
The President is much gratfed at the cordial
reception of his overtures. He feels that In
elicitng the common sentiment of the various
governments in favor Of the principle involved,
and Of the objects sought to be attained. a
notable step has been taken toward eventual
success.
PRESIDENTS TASK ACCOMPLISHED.
Pending a definite agreement for meeting
when circumstances shall permit. it seems de-
s1rabIe that comparison of views should be
had among the participants to the scope and
Uecond conference. The invitation put forth
by the government of the United States did
not attempt 10 do more than indicate the gen.
eral topics which +he final act of the first con-
ference of The Hague relegated. as unfinished
matters. to consideration by a future confer
ence-adverting. in connection with the i'm
portant subject of the inviolabiity of private
property In naval warfare. to the like Views
pressed by the Congress of the United States In
it's resolution adopted April IS, 1904 with the
added suggestion that It may be desirable to
consider and adopt procedure by which States
on-sgnatOry to the original acts of the Hague
conference may become adhering parties. In the
present state of the project this government is
still ndsposed to formulate programme. In
view OF the virtual certainty that the PreSi-
dents suggestion of The Hague the place Of
accepted by all the interested powers. and in
view. also of the fact that an organized repre-
sentation OF the signatOries of the acts of 1899
now exists at that capital, this government feels
drawing up a programme preside the
deliberations of the SignatOrieS in that regard.
II seems to the President that the high task he
undertook in seeking to bring about an agree
conference is virtually accomplished, so far as
ii is appropriate for him to act and that, with
the general acceptance of his invitation In prtn-
Ciple, the future conduct of the affair may htly
follow It's normal channels.
To this end it is suggested that the further
and necessary interchange of views between
the signatOries of the acts of 1899 be effected
through the International Bureau under the
ell of The Hague. 1t is believed that In this
way by utilizing the central representative
agency established and maintained by the
powers themselves an orderly treatment OF the
preliminary consultations may be insured. and
the way left clear for the eventual action of
the government Of the Netherlands in calling
a renewed conference to assemble at The
Hague should that course be adopted.
You will bring this communication To the
knowledge of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
and invite consideration of the suggestions
herein made. l am, sir, your oDedlent servant
JOHN HAY.