The midland journal., 1907-06-28
UNITED STATES TAKES LEAD
Reserves Right To Present Armament
Question.

The Hague (By Cable).-- The sur
prise of the second session of the
Peace Conference was the formal
on behalf of the United States, OF
the right to present the question OF
| limitation of armaments. Together
with this, he also reserved the right
to introduce the subject of the col
| lection of contractural debts by force.
While this reservation was made
quite mutually, in accordance with
notice served on Russia during the
| preliminary negotiations last spring,
and in order that silence now might
not be construed as acquiescence in
| the restriction of the work of the
conference to the limits of the Rus
sian program, it fs believed to indi-
cate a firm resolve on the part OF
the Washington government, after
seeing the trend of the situation
here, to raise the question later II
1t becomes apparent that the subject
is going by default.
1t can be stated positively, how
ever, that no proposition has yet
been formulated by the American
delegates, but this action has re-
newed the hope that the United
States would bring up the question
of limitation, and has given great
satisfaction to the pacificists.
British Reservation.
Sir Edward Fry also served notice
that Great Britain reserved the right
to introduce subjects outside the
program, but less significance is at
tached to his action.
Another interesting feature of the
session was Baron Won Bieberstein's
notification that Germany intended
to offer the proposition of an inter-
national prize court to which appeals
could be made at the time of mar
itime war, and the decision of which
should be final. General Porter sec
onded this proposition ons behalf OF
the United States, and Sir Edward
Fry declared that Great Britain pro-
posed to advance a project on simi-
lar lines.
The fact that the first definite pro-
position submitted to the conference
should emanate from Germany and
receive the prompt and cordial sup
port of the United States and Great
Britain, created an especially good
impression.
Beyond these two matters, the ses-
sion was prefunctory in character.
Four committees were created as
prearranged, and the rules formulat-
ed, except on permitting countries
to vote by proxy, adopted. The
United States was honored by two
honorary preshEencies, and Mexico,
Argentine and Brazil each obtained
recognition.
Watch for Anarchists.
Elaborate precautions still are be-
ing taken to insure the safety of the
delegates from anarchistic attempts,
as we'll as to prevent eavesdropping.
Before the sitting the old castle
was thoroughly searched and an the
doors leading to the Hall of Knights
were sealed. A force of 90 police
occupied the cellar underneath,
ready to respond to an electrical call
placed on President NelidofH's table.
Shortly before the conference as
sembled the Russian minister of JUS
tice telegraphed the Dutch minister
of justice that he had grave appre-
tensions for the safety OF the Rus
sian delegates. He begged the Dutch
authorities to take every precaution.,
Accordingly, in addition to the pres.
ence of Russian and Dutch detectives,
every time the conference meets, the
whole building, which is perfect
rabbit warren, with winding stair
cases and small half-hidden doors.
will be searched from top TO bottom,
both at the opening and closing of
the session.