Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-15
THE KINGS POSITION.
Will Pose as Apostle of Peace Before
 Commissioners.

Washington, D. C., April l5.--
 King Edward, of Great Britain, has
 been preparing for two years to pose
 as an apostle of peace before the ap-
 preaching conference at The Hague. A little more than two years ago,
 now, through diplomatic channels, the
 British foreign office let it be known | to the powers that 1t was the desire of Great Britain to reduce its own
 armament if an arrangement could
 be reached by which other powers also
 would limit their military and naval
 establishments.
 When the proposition was made to the United States, President Roose-
 welt expressed his cordial approval of its spirit. He suggested, however, 1t
 would be necessary to work out some
 definite plan to which all the powers
 would agree, before any tangible re-
 suits could be achieved At the time
 he had no plan to propose. Later. af-
 ter some consideration. the United
 States suggested that limitation be
 placed on the tonnage and displace-
 ment of battleships that idea being more likely to be adopted generally
 than any other. Great Britain imme-
 dlately placed the seal of her disap-
 proval on that plan. Although two
 years have elapsed since the rejection
 or America's suggestion, Great Brit
 ain has offered no plan for a limita-
 ton or reduction of armaments which
 she is willing to advocate. The Brit
 lsh foreign office is long on generali-
 tles, but short on specifications.
 When the conference at The Hague
 convenes on the 10th of next June the probabilities are that no definite scheme for reduction of the arma-
 ments of the world will have been formulated. In diplomatic circles it Is regarded as quite unlikely that any proposition of the kind will receive favorable consideration at the con ference. Great Britain is suspected py the other powers of ulteriOr de- signs. While she has been talking of reduction of ornaments. she has proceeded as rapidly as possible to increase her own. That she is not sincere is believed to be proved by the fact that she has rejected all reason able suggestions that have been made ana by the additional fact that her own proposition is so vague as to be impracticable of discussion or consideration by the conference.
 european diplomats generally take I no serious stock in Great Britains | professions of peace. They regard them merely as a blind to substan- tial increase of her war vessel ton age. What President Roosevelt may think of King Edwards position is not disclosed. but it may be guessed rom his advocacy of the construc- non Of additional heavy war ships lor the American navy. It is known mat a considerable number of mem- ,ers of the American congress who voted against the last naval bill did 90 because they thought there was probabllity of the adoption of Great proposition to reduce arm lments. The scheme did not work. however, and the congress author .ed the construction of two twenty nousand ton battleships,
 fresldent Roosevelt's idea that the est way to insure peace is to be pre- ared for war found Judgment in the ongress. That idea. too, is main- ained by practically all who have tudied the situation profoundly. lg -hdrew Carnegie. with whom the resident has discussed the question lany times, regards the matter of n of armaments as quite im- V racticable,' although pretty in cory" His idea and that of the resident is that war best can be 'erted by arbitration. To that end. s has donated a magnificent home a r the Peace Tribunal at The Hague ., ld 1t was with a similar idea that I provided the funds for the cree ., m of a beautiful building in this v, o Y for the bureau of American Ie- o,