Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-15
HAGUE HOPES FOR
PEACE GROW BRIGHT
Increase in Number Of States a
Good Augury.
NELIDOFF IS PESSIMISTlC
He Declares Universal Peace and Dis.
armament Unattainable.
SOME AMERICANS PRESENT
Gen. John W. Foster of~Washington
Comments on the vestry-Like Ap-
pearance Of the Meeting.


opened the peace conference today by af-
hrming that universal peace and disarma-
ment were unattainable. The deliberate ut
terances of the Russian statesman, al
though pessimistic to the extent referred
to, were hopeful when later he said he be-
lieved that a better method for the judicial
adjustment Of disputes was possible, even
though all conflicts between nations were
no more avoidable than conflicts between
individuals.
Lad Day for Conference.
A drizzling, overcast day ushered in the
second peace conference. The depressing
weather conditions however, did not pre-
vent the government of the Netherlands
from trying to give the city a gala appear
ance. The red, white and blue flag of
Holland, side by side with the orange stand
ard of the house of Nassau, was hoisted
over every public building, and many pri-
vate residences flew the national colors
fortunately the clouds began to break
toward noon, and the people were soon
gathering to witness the arrival of the dis
tinguished foreigners at the ancient Dor
tails OF the Binnenhof, within the walls of
which is located the old castle in which the
SAssAAoS VI lhC COulcTtIlCe Will De lel0 de-
void, however. of pomp and glitter
No Insignia Of Rank.
AS upon the occasion of the first confer
ence, the government of the Netherlands, in
order to lay stress on the peaceful char
acter and objects Of the conference, spe-
cially requested the delegates and military
and naval attaches not to appear in uni
form, or wear any insignia of their rank
Yntny
C., representing China, was the first dele
gate to go up the carpeted steps, by the
guards. and into the knights hall. One
| Of the British delegates. who followed
| him. glanced at the church like interior and
exclaimed:
/ 1T Is going to be like a vestry meeting
| on large scals?'
III. Nelidoff, pausing. just inside the hal,
was surrounded by newcomers. to whom he
| pointed out the beautiful Gothic ceiling
| in oak.
+ Attaches az .Ushers.
The ushers young foreign Office employees,
showed the delegates to their places, which
were carefully arranged under the alpha
| bette system, thus giving the Germans.
"Aliemagne,'' the place Of honor. The
right Of the United States was to be next.
| under Amerique." but the plan was 50
manipulated that 1t brought the French
delegates Immediately in front of the presi-
cdent, with the British behind them. The
HollanderS were on the presidents left
The small single gallery across the rear of
| the hall was filled with the wives and other
! kinswomen Of the delegates Among the
Americans present were Mrs and Miss
| Choate. Mrs. and Miss Rose and Mesdames
Buchanan, Sperry, Foster and Davis Be-
| low the gallery was an inclosed space re-
| served for the foreign journalists.
Address Of Welcome.
DR.. van Tets van Goudrain. the Neither
lands foreign minister, in welcoming the
delegates. said:
I'm the name of the queen I have the
honor of bidding you welcome. Associat-
ing herself with the desire by which EN-
peror Nicholas was animated when he ad-
dressed to tke powers his proposal to send
delegates to the second peace conference,
the queen has been happy to consent that
her capital once more offers its hospitality
to your illustrious assembly.
1.-THE government Of the Netherlands has
directed me on this occasion to give express
sion to the sentiments of deep gratitude
which it entertains toward the Russian
emperor. who has taken the initiative In
calling the conference, and the occasion
should not be allowed to pass without Of
fering tribute of our gratitude to the emf
Lent statesman who presides over the
destines of the United States President
Roosevelt, who has powerfully contributed
toward raising the seeds sown by the in
itiator of these assemblies.
Welcome a Good Augury.
1.-THE labors of the first conference have
been subjected to severe criticism, but the
judgment passed on them and the events
that have occurred, which in the opinion Of
some pessimists furnished proof Of the use
lessness of the conference, have not seri-
ously weakened the current Of opinion ia
vorable to the work of the assembly of 1885,
The best proof that the peoples and their
governments are not Indifferent to this cur
rent of opinion, but are subject to its in
fuence, is the\eagerness with which the
powers responded to the appeal made to
them This unanimous welcome seems
good augury, which appears to Justify the
hope that the conference will mark one
stage on the road which should lead to the
object in view. The increase in the num-
Der of states represented is another ia
vorable sign.
Dispatch to Nicholas.
ct now propose that the conference send
the following dispatch to Emperor Nicho-
las:
cat the commencement Of Its Iabors
the second peace conference lays at the
feet of your majesty its respectful homage
and expresses to your majesty its profound
gratitude for having taken the initiative
in continuing the work begun in 1899.
1.-The conference begs your majesty to
believe in its sincere desire to work with
all its strength to accomplish the delicate
and at the same time arduous task which
has been confided to it,
The minister also expressed the wish
that M. Nelidoff, head of the Russian del
egation, should assume the presidency of
the conference, which was unanimously
agreed to.
1t can be stated on authority that the
United States delegates to The Hague con-
ference will not bring UP for discussion the
question of the limitation of armament.
That matter Is regarded as purely Euro
pean question at present, and as the result
Of years work by Prof. de Martens at
the various capitals of Europe Is to thrash
out the whole matter and make evident the
fact that at least fo,lr Of tho preat pOuars