New-York tribune., 1907-08-18
VOTE FOR A PRINCIPLE.
ARMAMENT REDUCTION.
PIenary Peace Session adopts Brit
ish Motion Unanimously.

of ornaments" The sitting was held in the
Hall Of knights. the seats in which had
been arranged SO as to make the speeches more
audible the presidents tribune occupying the
centre of the hall. Great interest was taken
in the meeting of the delegates. the women's
tribune being overcrowded.
Immediately after NJ. Nelfdoff had called the
conference to order. the monotonous reading
of the minutes of the former penary session
began. After the minutes had been approved
the amendments to the convention Of 1899 re-
garding the laws and customs of land war and
the prohibition against throwing explosives
from balloons. reported by General Baron Giesl
Won Gieslingen (Austria-Hunsary), were read
and unanimously adopted was the convention
regarding the bombardment Of undefended
towns, etc
The attention Of the conference became in
tense when Sir Edward Fry. head Of the British
delegation, made his speech on the subject Of
the limitation of ornaments He recalled that
the Emperor of Russia, in convoking the first
peace conference, had principally in view put
ting stop to the increase Of armaments. and
the solution of this question, Sir Edward added
had become more and more urgent in view of
the manner in which armaments had been ex-
tended. He referred to the military expendi-
lures of various nations. and said that the Brit
ish government recognizing that several powers
desired restrict their military expenses. was
ready to communicate once a year 70 those
powers inclined to do likewise its projects fer
the construction of new warships. well the
expenses implied therein. believing that this
exchange of news would facilitate the exchange
of views between the governments concerned
regarding the reduction of arnaments.
At the conclusion Of his speech Sir Edward
proposed the adoption of the following resOlu-
ton:
This conference confirms the resolution adopt
ed by the conference of 1899 regarding the lini-
tation OF military burdens. and military bur-
denS have been considerably augmented IN al
most all countries since 1899, il declares il is
highly desirable 70 see the governments earnest
~ resume the study OF this question.
Immediately after Sir Edward had finished
speaking NJ. Nelidor. head of the Russian dele
cation and president OF the conference, rose
and read several communications regarding the
limitation Of armaments, including the disarma-
ment convention between Argentina and Chili.
He then said that the conference must receive
sympatheticaIly all efforts In this direction He
recalled the fact that the idea 70 diminish mill
tary burdens was the principal object Of En-
peror Nicholas in convoking the conference. anu
said that all the governments adhered to that
object. Russia, he further pointed out had
presented the first proposal aiming TO prevent
the increase Of arTna aments. but contact with
reality showed the difficulty in carrying out the
generous idea Indeed, when the committee OF
the first conference discussed the question Of
disarmament the divergency Of opinions as
sumed such character as to threaten the ac-
cord OF the delegates and the work Of the con-
ference. Then IL agreed that the question
was not mature. but the conference unanimously
approved the resolution recalled by Sir Edward
Fry. However even the wish expressed by
that resolution was not carried out Only Ar
gentina and Chill. as shown by the communica-
tions previously read. succeeded In concluding
n disarmament convention. The greater part OF
the European powers had other matters TO oc-
cupy their attention. Immediately after the
first conference disorders In China obliged the
governments to intervene. shortly after this
the Boer war occurred, and finally came the
colossal war In the Far East, whose liquidation
was scarcely finished
NJ Nelidof added that this summary did not
take into account small colonial conflicts or dip
lonatic difficulties which had obliged some Of
the powers monentarily to augment their arma-
nents instead OF studying the question Of their
Limitation. For these reasons the Russian gov
ernment did not include in the programme Of
this conference a discussion Of the limitation Of
ornaments, considering that the question was
not mature enough for fruitful debate Indeed,
the Russian government had determined not TO
take part in the discussion. and several other
powers had reached the same decision Never
theless the British government, interpreting
public feeling in the British Empire, had ex-
pressed the intention 10 recall TO the attention
of the powers the question of the possible limit
alton of arrnaments, and had instructed Sir
Edward Fry TO submit the resolution just pre-
sented. NJ. Nelidon added:
I cannot find any other way to show the in
NJ he in
immature in 1899. is not more mature in 1907.
II is impossible 10 accomplish anything in this
direction and the conference finds itself to-day
as unprepared TO face the question as IL was in
1899 ANY discussion of the matter, sterile in
itself. would be injurious TO the cause of peace.
as showing the divergence or opinion existing,
while on the other hand a unity of intentions
exists which may one day lead to their realiza-
ton
NJ Nelidoff then proposed that the conference
unanimously adopt the British resolution as
constituting the cnly guarantee OF further prog
ress of the question, while 1t would be an honor
for the present conference 10 have contributed
to IT by an immediate vote.
The Russian diplomat concluded his remarks
with saying: "I therefore applaud the British
initiative and recommend that the conference
adopt the resolution as proposed by Sir Edward
Fry with unanimous acclamation.'
The British resolution was thereupon unani-
mously approved
Among the communications read by NJ Nell
dofs Immediately after Sir Edward Fry's speech
was letter from Joseph II. Choate supporting.
in the name of the United States. the British
resolution and expressing American sympathy
with it's terms. The letter was in part as fol-
lows:
In the course OF the negotiations which pre-
ceded this conference. the government of the
Tinted States considered it its duty TO reserve
the right of raising here the important subject