The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-15
CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE TO-DAY Representatives of Forty Six Countries Gathered
 for Opening.
DISARMAMENT MATTER
Prospects of Making a Step in That Direction Seems
 Very Slim.

The Hague, June 14.-With the rep resentatives of forty-six countries gath
 cred here for the opening of the second
 peace conference tomorrow, there is a
 remarkable contrast between the senti-
 ments prevailing upon the eve of the
 original conference of 1899 and to-day
 which has become a subject of general
 comment. In 1889, although less than half of the present number of govern
 mtnts was represented the hopes of the
 world were high and there was a vision
 dis disarmament and the banishment of war from among civilized peoples.
 Men who were here eight years ago re- call how the delegates of the powers met in response to the appeal of the emperor of Russia and entered upon their work with the zeal and enthusi- asm of men upon q holy mission. Yet three months later this dream faded and nothing beyond the adoption of a
 
 ject of the conference.
 To-day, with the conference a world parliament in tho fullest aoceptatlon of the term, the delegates meet In a more practical and more sober spirit. Two wars have been fought since 1899, and the military budgets of the powers are heavier, but disarmament has not been even preached, and the prospects of making a step in the direction of the limitation of armaments are very slim. At the same time all the delegates ad- nit that the public agitation in favor of disarmament and the banishment 1899. The trouble, they say, lies in the European situation which is so delicate that no single power. apparently, is ready to propose formula lest it 1eop- ardize the extremely useful work of ameltoratlng the horrors of war, defln- ing the rights and duties of neutrals, perhaps extending the principle of ar bitration, etc., which may be accom- pHshed The powers favorIng a dlscus- sion of d proposal to reduce arma- ments fear that unless 1t Is brought up the whole idea may fall into univer- sal rldicule.
 At the outset It is seen that the im- portant thing to avoid is discord and with the purpose of permitting fur ther exchange of views in order that the delegates get better acquainted, 1t has been decided already to postpone the second session of the conference until Tuesday
 Some optimists incline to the opinion that the fact that the differences are fully appreciated in advance is only likely to make the ultimate result rich CT Upon the single question of pubii- city the jealousy of the powers has contributed directly to bringing about a view totally different from that which prevailed in 1899. Then not a single power supported Sweden's mo- tion for publicity, To-day Germany be- lieves that publicity will prevent her being placed in a false position and the fact that Germany refuses to the odium of advocating sec- recy forces her opponents, some of whom doubt the expediency of publi- city to support It.
 It is idle to deny that the antagonism of Great Britain and Germany over- shadows the conference. The Germans come to The Hague extremely suspi- cious that the group of powers of 1 which Great Britain Is the backbone in- end to try to manoeuvre her into a position where the failure to do any | hing in the direction of the limitation | If armaments will be laid to her door. Although some aid from Italy may be expected, and Russia Is not unfriendly. Germany Is only sure of Austria, and he fears a trap. For instance, she is | Ifrald of compulsory arbitration lest | t compel her to submit interests which he deems vital to an unfriendly tri- | )unal.
 In the event of a clash the immense trength of the United States position, rec as 1t is of European suspicion and ,acksd by Latin America, is univer- ally recognized. For this reason the American delegates to the conference will act with circumspectAtion They leld two conferences to-day in which he situation was gone over. The Am ricans maintain great reserve, but 1t an be stated positively that they have 10 sensational move in contemplation.
 The conference Is developing It's | ghter sides. For instance, the extreme of the Old World are eaus- lg much amusement to the younger chool from across the water. An att ache of the American legation calctl- tied to-day that to leave a card upon very delegate on the calling list would lvolve the handing over of twenty ounds of cardboard, as in addition to 1e exchange of calls with each of the 50 delegates and attaches the Dutch )reign office has supplied list of 1 1irty government and court function rles upon whlm they are expected to Ill, and who will return these visits the course of time
 Nothing has yet been heard of the ,tter of Count Okuma, of Japan, to M. elidoff, the Russian delegate, relative , the race issue, and the members of le Japanese delegation disclaim all ,sponsibility therefore, and scoff at the lea that it is intended to raise this uestion.
 Although the exchanges with St. Pet 'sburg regarding the text of M. Neli- offs opening speech were still in prog 9ss tonight, it is stated positively that icy contain no reference to the ques- on of the limitation of armaments.
 A great demonstration of Dutch and her continental socialists against the inference, as not being representative the wishes of the proletariat in fa- or of disarmament will occur in a lhlic mark of the Hapna on Snndav 1