The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-03
PLANS HAVE NOT
BEEN WORKED OUT
Nothing Done in Way of Pro-
gram for Meeting of Second
Peace Conference.
OPENING SESSION PUBLIC
THE HAGUE AN IDEAL PLACE
FOR MEETING.

The Hague. June 2-The general plan,
of the proceedings at the second peace
conference probably will follow closely
the procedure of the first congress held
in 1899 Practically nothing has been
worked out in advance The arrangements
up to the present time simply cover the
opening session, when NJ. Nelidoff, the
Russian ambassador TO France. will call
the conference to order and make an ad-
dress extending his s0vereigu's greetings
to the delegates. DR.. Jonkheer Van Tets
Van Gourdain, the Dutch minister for
foreign affairs, will reply i'm an address
of welcome on behalf of Queen Wilhel-
nina Thereafter it will remain for the
conference to decide how it will proceed.
Committees Come First.
1t is safe to assume. however, that tho
general line of procedure OF the former
conference will be duplicated. The first
thing in order will be the appointment OF
committees to consider the various sub
iectS inscribed upon the Russian pro-
gram. These will hardly number more
than five. Unless the question of the re-
duction or limitation of ornaments is in
jected into the proceedings at the out
set, in which event the main struggle
may be at once precipitated, the plenary
body probably will not meet again for ten
days a fortnight, in order that the
committees have an opportunity TO pre-
pare reports for submission. In general.
il is not expected that the full conference
will meet more than once a week until
the work of the committees justifies more
frequent sessions.
Opening Session Public.
The opening session, it is expected. will
be public to the extent. at least, of ad-
hitting a few distinguished guests and
press representatives but the sessions OF
the conference and of the committees will
be secret.
The question of giving out a public
statement of the progress made will ne
decided by the conference itself
In 1899. Russia attempted to shroud the
proceedings in mystery and secrecy but
after a fortnight it was found that this
course led to the publication of so many
mischievOus rumOrs that several semi-Of-
fetal statements were issued This year
many of the delegates. realizing the ad-
vantage of stopping the mouths of thu
daily if possible, of a brief semi-official
statement.
French viii Be Spoken.
The French language. as in 1899. will be
the official language of the conference, al
though the advent Of the South Americans
and the growing influence of English,
may lead &c some relaxation Of the rule
with regard to the debates. and may re-
suit in a compromise such as was ar
ranged at the peace conference at Ports
mouth. whereby the protocols, or minutes.
were inscribed in both French and Eng
regarded as official in case of dispute.
The governments official entertainment
of the delegates will not be lavish, but
rather will be in the same good taste as
gram. Nothing will be arranged which
could in any way interfere with the work
of the conference. Parliament has APP
propriated 100000 gulden $4,000 for tho
reception Of the cOuntry's guests, but this
covers the expenses in connection with
the sittings of the Hall of the Knights
In addition the government viii give an
entertainment. the nature of which has
not been definitely determined except that
it will not be an evening reception. Moro
probably it will take the form of a day
trip or excursion to some interesting MS
tOTical spot. The municipality will give
a formal reception. Queen Wilhelmins.
out of her privy purse, viii also enter
tain the delegates as body. In 1899 she
received them in the old royal palace at
Amsterdam. but this year she will offer
her hospitality at HetlOo her country
seat. about an hours run from The
Hague.
City Ideal in Summer.
Beyond these official functions. there
will be much private entertaining by tho
Dutch aristocracy and among the diplo
mats themselves. In addition the dele
gates will not lack for distraction in their
idle moments. The city is almost ideal
in summer. 1t lies picturesquely in low.
green landscape. threaded with canals AMI
dotted with characteristic Dutch wind
mills, and is always cooied by the breezes
of the sea. two miles away. The streets
are quiet and the homes and villas or
the Dutch aristocracy. bearing testimony
TO the fortunes amassed in the East In
dies. give it an air of elegant cosmopoi-
itauism Minister Hill is extremely anx-
ious that the ceremony Of the laying o.
| the cornerstone of the Palace Of Peace. to
which Andrew Carnegie has subscribed
81, go. 900. shall take place before the con
| ference adiourns. The site of the building
| has been chosen in park called the Be
noordenhOutsche Pelder, but the plans
have not vet been definitely approved
The lowest estimate of the duration OF
! the conference is six weeks, and the be-
lief is that it will be in session between