The Washington herald., 1907-01-20
Limitation Of Ar1nnments.

/ When the Car of Russia convoked the
1 first Hague Conference he laid great
stress upon the desirability of limiting the
military establishments Of the powers
and of reducing the national burdens inn
posed by their maintenance. Among the
subjects set down for consideration at the
conference was AN understanding not to
| increase for a fixed period the present
effective Of the armed military and naval
forces" but the conference was unable
to reach an agreement in accord with the
pacific purpose of the Gar in convoking
that body, although the delegates adopted
an expression Of sentiment to the effect
that the restriction OF military charges is
extremely desirable for the material and
moral welfare of mankind.
A strong effort is afoot TO secure an
other hearing on the question of disarma-
ment at the second Hague Conference,
which is to meet some time during this
year. The programme for this confer
ence is now undergoing consideration in
the foreign Offices Of the powers a teuta-
tive programme was suggested by Russia
in the spring Of 1896, which excluded the
disarmament proposal, on the ground that
it is necessary only to examine questions
which press with particular urgency, in
asmuch as they arise from the experience
Of recent years" But we now have the
assurance Of Prof de Martens. who is
sounding the views Of the powers as TO
the scope Of the conference. that the
Russian attitude respecting disarmament
is not unfriendly. but receptive. He is
quoted as saying that the Cars views
on disarmament have not changed since
the Muravieff note Of 1885. proposing q
nonaugmeutation Of ornaments and con-
siderati0n of measures for their reduc-
ton. He is only too willing to again dis
cUss the subject if it is acceptable to the
powers who rejected it in 1879
The attitude of the United States in the
approaching conference toward disarma-
ment has been the subject Of considerable
speculation during the past few months
and varying reports have appeared in the
press. the latest being that we viii take
practically the same position as in 1859,
when our delegates refrained from active
advocacy OF the limitation Of arma-
ments on the theory that the size
of our military and naval establish
ment was such that its limitation
would be Of no practical consequence. In
some quarters, however it appears TO be
taken for granted that the United States
and Great Britain viii assume the iuitia-
tive in proposing that disarmament be one
Of the topics for consideration at the sec
ond conference. 1t is reported from Rome
that the Italian foreign Office is prepared
10 support the Anglo-American initiative:
and what is more surprising. Italy is dis
posed. according to a cable dispatch To
the New York Sun. TO begin disarmament
on her own account in the event of q dis
agreement Of the powers at The Hague.
hasing her action on the plea that a bur
densOme military establishment is un-
necessary for her defense, owing to the
triple alliance and the Anglo-French en-
tente
In view Of the rapid growth Of our mill
tary and naval expenditures, and of the
increasing ornaments Of those nations
with whom our interests may possibly
clash. it can hardly be maintained with
any show Of reason that our concern in
the limitation Of ornaments is purely
academic. At all events further discus
sion Of the subject at the coming Hague
Conference viii do no harm. even If the
delegates should be unable to evolve any
practicable plan for the reduction of those
excessive ornaments, which, TO use the
language Of the memorable rescript Of the
Car. weigh upon all nations. including
the great peace-loving republic of the
western hemisphere.