Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-08-22

airy sitting of the peace conference
Saturday a resolution proposed by Sir
Edward Fry (British), was adopted
unanimously, as follows:
This conference confirms the res
olution adopted by the conference of
1899 regarding the limitation of mill
tary burdens, and as military burdens
have been considerably augmented in
almost all countries since 1899, it de-
clares that it is highly desirable to
see the governments earnestly resume
the study of this question"
The conference gave close attention
while Sir Edward Fry delivered his
speech. He recalled that the emperor
Of Russia, ia Convoking the first peace
conference, had principally in view
putting stop to the augmentation Of
ornaments, and the solution Of this
question, Sir Edward added, had be-
come more and more urgent in view
had been extended. He referred to
the military expenditures Of various
nations and said that the British gov
eminent, recognizing that several
powers desired to restrict their mill
tary power, was ready to cOmmuni-
cate once a year to those powers in
cIined to do likewise, it's projects for
the construction of new Warships, as
well as the expenses implied thereby,
believing that this exchange would
facilitate the exchange Of views be-
tween the governments concerned re-
garding the reduction Of ornaments.
The proposition to prohibit the
throwing of explosives from balloons
was approved by 20 yeas and votes
in the negative. There were seven alb
stentions from voting on this PROPOSE
ton.
Sir Edward Fry announced that
Great Britain adhered to the prohibit
ton of the use of asphyxiating gas
and expanding bullets.
The proposition to prohibit the bonn
bardmcnt of undefended towns was
unanimously approved, though seven
delegations made reserves.
After the disarmament treaty be-
tween Argentine and Chill had been
read the whole conference enthusiast
tically applauded Seniors Drago and
ConCha, who were chiefly instrt men
tai in drawing up that treaty.
Only One Treaty Concluded.
Immediately after Sir Edward had
finished speaking NJ. Nelidoff, head
of the Russian delegation and presi-
dent of the conference, rose and read
several communications regarding
the limitation of ornaments, including
the disarmament convention between
Argentina and Chill. He then deIiy-
cred a speech, saying that the con
ference must receive sympathetically
all efforts in this direction. He re.
called the fact that the diminishing
of military burdens constituted the
principle object of Emperor Nicholas
in COnvoking the conference and that
object. Russia, he further pointed
out had presented the first PROPOSE
t ion aiming to prevent the increase
Of ornaments, but contact with reality
showed the difficulty in carrying out
the generous idea. Indeed, when the
committee of the first conference
discussed the question of disarmament
the divergence of opinion assumed
such character as to threaten the
accord of the delegates and the work
OF the conference. Then it was
agreed that the question was not ma
ture, but the conference unanimously
approved the resolution recalled by
Sir Edward Fry However, even the
wish expressed by that resolution was
not carried out Only Argentina and
Chilli, as shown by the communica-
lions previOu ly read, succeeded in
concluding a disarmament conveu-
ton. The greater part of the European
powers had other matters to occupy
their attention Immediately after
this the boer war occurred. and, fin
oily. came to the colossal war in the
far east who's liquidation was
scarcely finished.
H. Nelidoff said this did not take
into account small. colonial conflicts
or diplomatic difficulties which had
obliged some OF the powers to mo-
mentarily augment their ornaments
instead of settling the question of
their limitation. For these reasons
the Russian government did not in
Guide in the program of this confer
ence discussion of the limitation of
ornaments, considering that the cues
ton was not mature enough for
fruitful debate. Indeed. the Russian
government had determined not to
participate in the discussion and sew
eFal other powers had arrived at the
same decision. Nevertheless, the
British government. interpreting pub
lie feeling in the British empire. had
expressed the intention to recall to
the attention Of the powers the cues
ton of the possible limitation of arm
aments and had instructed Sir Ed
ward Fry to submit tho resolution
just presented.
Il cannot find any other way to
show the interest of the powers in
this question" H NelidoT added