The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-16
Head of Russian Delegation De- IiVarS Crushing BOVt0 Arm-
 anant Limitation
CHEERS FOR ROOSEVELT
 AMERICA MAY DOMINATE
Nations, Like Individuals, Will Always Fight Says Nelidoff-Alleviate Horrors of War-No
 More.

The Hague, June 15.--The second inter-
 national peace conference was opened in
 this city this afternoon. The opening ses-
 sion lasted scarcely twenty minutes and
 was devoid of any incident of the cut and dried prearranged programme. 1t con-
 sisted simply of a short speech of welcome by Dr. Van Beets Nangoudrian, the Netherlands foreign minister the adop-
 ton of resolution to send telegrams of greeting to Emperor Nicholas and Queen Wilhcmina. and the delivery of the eager
 ly awaited speech by M. Neidoff, head of
 the Russian delegation, who was unai-
 mously chosen president of the confer ence.
 Tine keynote sounded on behalf of Rus
 sia was crushing blow to the pachcists.
 There was no mineing of words when he spoke of the idea of ultimate disarma-
 ment and the inauguration of 4 regime Of
 universal peace was relegated to the limbo of dreams
 Peace Never Attained. M Neldoff described this as "a star
 floating far above this mundane sphere
 to be always striven for, but never at' tained."
 Nations like individuals" he said quite | frankly "are human and not the most perfect judicial system ever invented
 could put an end to strife and violence. When honor and vital interests are dt
 stake, regardless of consequences, neither
 the former nor the latter will recognize
 any authority but personal Judgment a.nd personal feeling.
 | Stripped or It's fine phrases, the speech ] of M Nelidoff is considered a deliberate l warning to the conference to keep down 1 to the plane of the earth and to continue the work of the first conference in alle- 1 Viating the horrors Of war and narrowing the chances of conflict by opening wider
 the door of arbitration and aim toward
 cancellation on justice" but not to go l further.
 No Mention of Armaments. ] The pious VOW that the powers should study, the question of Tightening military establishment with which the conference
 concluded it's labors was not even men tioned. The speech. however, at least clears the atmosphere and shows that ! Russia is determined to try and keep the conference within her programme and that so far the discussion of the ques. l ton of Limitation of armaments Is con-
 cerne1 She lines up Germany and Austria on her side.
 In face of this initial reverse 1t re- 1 mains to be seen what the President of l D l armamcnts. will do. The delegates will l insist that this subject must not be al- 1 lowed to drop, no matter whether 1t ls | possible to make an actual step in the l direction of limitation or not. manifest
 some resentment. They say they would l not have been dissatisfied had Russia | steered clear of the subject altogether. l but expressed the opinion that this was a bold attempt to insure the conference agains. limitation as highly improper.
 Roosevelt Honors of the Day. As matter of fact however. Roose- welt carried off the honors Of the inaI- gural session. The sounds of applause which greeted the high tributes paid the President by both M Van Leets Van Goudran and M. Neldoff, were hearty
 and spontaneous manifestations and 1t is perhaps not too much to say that this Incident points to President Roosevelt and the American delegation instead of i to the Emperor of Russia as the mould CTS of the destiny Of the present con ference At any rate. it certainly shows with what common accord the world rec ognlzes the lofty motives which inspire America in international action Gala Appearance. A drizzling. overcast day ushered In the second day of the peace conference.
 The depressing weather conditions, how
 ever. did not prevent the government of CONTINUED ON PAGE I0.)