The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-07
A STORY OF THE HAGUE.
Interesting Facts About the Original of the First Peace Congress.

Interesting Facts About the Original
 of the First Peace Congress.
 New York Tribune.
 An interesting story of the origin of the first peace congress at The Hague Is related by the exceptionally well in- formed St. Petersburg correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. of London, on what he describes as very high and. that he says, "there can De no doubt as to the substantial truth of the nar- rative''
 The story runs that at Easter time in 1893, when there were war clouds menacing almost every nation of the world. Germany and France had just equipped their armies. at great ex- pense, with new and improved artill- cry, and 1t was incumbent upon Aus tria and Russia. as their allies to do the same. But General Kuropatkin, the Russian Minister of War. present. ed to the Emperor a remonstrance and suggestion that if Austria Hun gary could be prevailed upon to re- frain from rearming her forces Rus sia might do the same, and much mutual limitation of armaments would be precisely equivalent to increase of armaments In keeping the balance of power. This suggestion impressed the Mouravieff, his Minister for Foreign Affairs, and asked him to consider 1t. discuss It with MT. Witte. the Minis ter for Finance, and report upon it.
 Count Mouravieff seems himself to have regarded the proposition favor ably, but MT Witte would have none of it. denouncing it as a suggestion which never should have been made, To attempt to execute it would be to represent Russia as impecunious and to impair her credit abroad. If new guns were needed or any other ex penses were necessary to keep Russia up to the military standard of the oth- CT great powers. the finance depart ment would find the money in some way, Nevertheless, MT Witte was not enamored of militarism, and he sug- gested that if all Europe could be per suaded to limit its armaments, that would be worth while, and the result would be enormous profit. If the Flu ropean states could content themselves with merely nominal armies, as did the United States of America, and confine their defenses to warships. they would rule the best part of the globe, Such a scheme was. he thought. worthy of the Emperor's attention.
 Count Mouravief reported to the Emperor the substance of his discus sion with Mr. Witte. possibly, howev- CT. taking credit to himself for the lat ters grandiose plan. Next a special council was called by the Emperor, in- dorf, General Kuropatkin, and MT Witte, at which General Kuropatkins original suggestion was first discussed MT. Witte repeated his criticisms of it. and was supported by Counts Moura- vieff and Lamsdorf, and the plan was rejected. Then Count MouravieH pre- sented a draft of circular to the powers aiming at some such under standing as MT. Wltte had proposed and the final outcome was the issuing of the invitation to the first congress at The Hague. So. es the correspon- dent cited suggests, the credit of the peace congress is divided amoRR three General Kuropatkin is entltledfto some for his protest against heavy military itation of arguments bv two powers; Mr-now Count-W!tte Is entitled to some, for his radical enlargement of his colleagues plan, and the Emperor Is entitled to some. for his beneVoleT : acceptance of and action upon his minister's suggestions. Perhaps. too Count Mouravieff also contributed to the result because of his taste for diplomatic fireworks"
 It was one of the ironies of fate that, after such an effort for peace General Kuropatkin should have been forced to bear the brunt of a gigantic and disastrous war which had been brought about by the intrigues and machinations of others. But 1t must be said. that many of his comments up- on that war strongly support the story keenly realized Russia's unprepared- ness for war or the utterly needless and wanton character of that conflict and it is easy to believe that some of the intensity of his expressions was Inspired by the reflection that this was the sequel to his initial move for peace among the nations