The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28
President NeIidoff Guarded Day
 and Night
A DEPUTATION OF WOMEN
International Council of Women Sends Delegation to The Hague to
 Work for International
 Peace Among Nations.
BY LADY HENRY SOMERSET.
Special to The Age-Herald from Hearst
 News Service. London)


 Special to The Age-Herald from Hearst
 News Service. London)
 Copyright, 1907, by w. R. Hearst)
 London, July 27.-In the quiet of the lit- tie Dutch town, clean with the order for which that nation is celebrated, rise the gables of the Hall of Knights, where the peace conference is being held. In this calm environment, it is difficult to re- member that the eloquent words which are spoken in favor of peace and which are heard so clearly in the stiffness of this serene place, and drowned to the ears of the world by the martial music of drum and fife, the clashing of bands and the tramp of many feet, as the great armaments of the world gather in their various centers, needless of that group who have met in the interests of peaee And yet in the midst of this pacific ses- sion the most amazing precautions are required. as an ominous warning from St. Petersburg tells of the grave peril threatened to MT. Nelidoff, the president.
 A police baITack has been formed in cellar, his hotel is watched day and night by Russian and Dutch secret agents, and whenever the conference meets, the build ing, which is perforated by small winding stalrcases and hidden doors, is searched from top to bottom and the doors are 
 broken in the presence of the representa- tive of the secretariat general, before the sitting of the conference. Such is the environment in which the peace confer ence is being held and many who occupy d seat in that Hall of Knights will re- member thrt after the disastrous skirmish which cost the life of Sydney in 156S 1t was in the course of negotiations in which Elizabeth strove to make peace that, on the 17th of January, some months before Sydney's death, the states general of Holland offered a ceremonial banquet to the Earl of Leicester in the very building where the peace conference assemblies But more tragic still is the memory or John Von Holland, who was condemned to death by the order of Prince Maurice of Orange and executed on a scaffold near the western door.
 We know little of the proportion that events will ultimately take; 1t is only when we look at them in the perspective of time that we understand what is des- tined to influence the fate of the world, or what Is unimportant and transitory, and I cannot but think that this meet ing. to which but passing allusions are given sometimes with a half pityng sneer and sometimes with sigh as to the futility of the attempt, may Tn days to come loom up as one Of the biggest things which have taken place in our day 
 In our daily papers we have long ac- counts of reviews of the new army scheme, of the necessity for further troops. All this news is read with eager ness and the discussion of The Hague conference is relegated to an unlmpoftalil place. but the grain of wheat Whlch ls cast into the ground does not dle-it re- mains buried awhile, and then with the indomitable perseverance of real life, pushes it's way up through the cold, hard earth until it reaches aid and sun ana liberty, ard brings life to the world.
 There are new forces making for in ternationalism which cannot now De curbed the result of a movement anu of A tendency which is unrestralned as the tide. and which gathers force as, 1t hears the shore, but is making Us inroade as quietly and as imperceptlbiy as the sea- And yet, in spite or tlis' the armies of Europe are growing, the sums of money which are poured ont are increasing, the fear of war between nations is aggravated.
 The programme of the new conference, however is nothing if not practical. It deals with the laws and usages of naval warfare, the operations of bombardment, the priv ate property of belligerents at sea and many other topics which do not de- mand an entire change of existing cohll- lions. but which so modify them as to mae men see SoIntlillll5 bl 'iiN Ni'7. the wicSedness of much which has hthef- to been considered prowess.
 One of the characteristic features, how ever of The Hague conference of 1907. was the reception of MT. Nelidon of the deputation from the international coun- ell of women, representing England, Ger many, America. Switzerland etc, who presented an address in favor or uhlYef- sal neace and disarmament. MT. Neli- do,t in replying said that he recognized that the deputation represented millions of women all over the world. He might wel, have added that 1t Is essentially woman's question and one which will not be finally settled until woman IS a l. mitsed to have an equal although dlt- ferent stake In the government or hations as men.