Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-31
PROGRAM FOR THE HAGUE
Statement that Conferences Will B. a
Failure Bmpbatioally Denied.
TWO PROPOSITIONS MAY Be EXCLUDED
Limitation of Armnmenta and the
DFaEo Doctrine Meet with OPpO-
sitiOn OF some Govern
menta.

LONDON, March sO-Great Britain has
made a formal and oficial request upon
Russia to include In the program Of the
next Hague conference the question OF the
limitation Of the expenditure on armament,
and has notified the powers invited to at
tend the conference Of this action. This
was done some days ago and up to the
present the Foreign office has not been adj
vised Of any opposition to Great Britain's
proposal. Neither has Great Britain
learned the nature Of the negotiations In
St. Petersburg between the ambassadors
Of Germany and Austria and Emperor Mich
olas, but It is believed these exchanges
have had to do with the form In which the
subject Of disarmament should be intro
duoed
The reports emanating from the continent
that Great Britain and the United States
would withdraw from the conference II
their wishes to discuss the termination of
armament were not complied with, and
that Germany and Austria would follow a
similar course II Russia included this
question in the program, are stigmatized by
officials Of the Foreign Office as pure In
ventions.
THAT any power would thus break up
the conference, which doubtless will render
much good to the cause Of humanity, be-
cause all its wishes do not meet with favor,
is incredible" said Foreign office official
today. Great Britain. supported by Amer
lea, Japan and Italy, will continue to press
it's point with every confidence in a sue
cessful outcome"
Failure Not Probable.
WASHINGTON, March So.-Based on con-
else and accurate reports from It's repre-
sentatives in the European capitals upon
the progress Of the negotiations relative to,
the subjects to be covered at the approach
ing second Hague conference, State depart
ment officials have reached the conclusion
| that there Is no reason to apprehend
failure of the great International gather
ing. program already has been arranged
with the assent Of every power of import
ance, that deals with topics Of the greatest
value to mankind. Most of the subjects
are legacies from the first conference, mat
tiers which from lack of time or because
the delegates at that conference were not
empowered to treat, were by resolution left
to be dealt with by a second conference.
Others were the outcome Of the sanguinary
wars that have occurred since the first con-
ference. These subjects, proposed by Rus
STA last June, were accepted as a definite
| program for consideration by all of the ma
lions addressed.
J II nothing more were accomplished at
the second conference than action upon
these propositions the gathering surely
would result in great benefit, and Il is
entirely within the power of the confer
ence to limit its scope TO such pro-
gram. But to allow for the development
of new conditions. a paragraph in the
| call for the second conference provided
| that new topics might be considered II
a majority OF the delegates present at the
second conference by vote express will
ingness to do SO.
Topics May BE Eliminated.
Great Britain wishes to avail Of this
| condition to discuss a Limitation of ma
tional armament, and the United States
| to urge the adoption as a rule of inter
national law of the Drago doctrine pro.
hibiting the uss of force by any nation
to collect international debts. Both are
controversial subjects, and to reduce
possible friction the Russian government
has been sounding other governments to
develop their attitude, with results that
are not wholly encouraging as to the re-
| ception that will be accorded these prop
ositions. Great Britain's present naval
predominance and the fact that European
nations are generally creditors have
proved to be grave obstacles. But the
| opinion among officials here is that, re-
| CARELESS Of the fate of the conditional
subjects. the conference will assemble
and discuss with beneficent results the
| subjects already accepted as its program.