PEACE CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2111, 20 June 1907, Page 1

PEACE CONFERENCE.

Britain and the United States,.and probublv Japan, are understood to be favorable to the discussion of limitation. According to a cablegram published lately. Italy gives a guarded consent. ..France and Russia are considered to be-doubtful. Germany and Austria hostile. A Pans-mess-age to an English newspaper states:. “French feeling al)oiit :i reduction of armaments .may ,be summed up in a vti-.v few words. ! 'We ask for nothing better, b'ut .we will not take tlie first: step.’. Frenchmen; contend t.bat they are armed for defence ciil.v, and that' tlie days when French military power! was a disturbing factor -for '-European peace have .passed. ’ Discreetly in the .press, but openly in private Conversation, it is .pointed but tliaiGermany is npw the nation to be feared, and’ tliat slia must , not only: give the signal, but begin, tlie. work of undoin ;ga state of things for which she . ih responsible M. Clein-enceau-said tlie other day that lie was afraid the events of last year wero being too soon forgotten. General

Andre’s disastrous experiment in .reduction of armaments cost France, eight, millions sterling to make good, besides tlie humiliation of a panic which M. Clemenceau need not tear v-ill ho soon forgotten Therefore, tllougli tlio French? Government will wtlconic in a becoming manner any },io|>osul to discuss the question of reducing military burdens,.‘arid will gladly agree 'to any solution .whichmay lie accepted hv tlio Great Powers, France will not. take the irritiativo of making proposals, nor will she. act on an understanding until Get-' n.any sets-'the example. -Tlie Republic stands, for. peace, ami even Frenchmen who are Jiot Republicans have no wish for war, but-' force of circumstances makes t lib nation sceptical about tlie realisation the pacifist i((eal. As I.e ,T<yiips. jays,: ‘There were numerous spirits ill France before 1870 who. preached the reconciliation of nations.and the abolition of standing armies. ‘■’•/After- Sedan-they give up their propaganda. After Hie lesson of Algctaraa. we liopo that our pabifistbs of tO;day'.will do' the srimo.’ "

• Tlio principal, points ..for the Russian progi'ahiino' for tlie, conference ni'mber tour. Tile first- proposal ask's for - the improvement of .the provisions of the convention agreed to at the lust conference for the settlement of international disputes by arbitration. The next subject to be discussed will be an addition to the (jt-nvention of -1899 relating to the 'aws and usages of war oil land, including the customs concerning the jpttiing. of..hostilities find the right ■r neutrals. Next, ’ Russia proposes hat a convention shall be framed elating to tho usages ot war at sea ino spocial subjects to be considered being, the bombardment of ports, tijwiis, or villages ,tji« laying of mine.. lie transformation of incrchant vesi els into ‘ warships, the private pro ;i(-rt-y of belligerents at sen, the per•id’of'grace tio-be given to merchant . bssels. to leave tlie ports of a belli-' lent;/the rights and duties of at iijutral at- sea-;--iiicludiug; contraband.-' ■ml the destruction oil tlie ■ ground; i force mtijerire of lieutrali nierchiilit' Wsols' i: ciipt ! ured- as prizes'. "WTIkP qurth - subject)-’in the‘ Russian pro-? gra ninie' is ’ a prbposal that so ; mucl i - -Ijall’-ho ’added' to the, Gonventibn of* is 99 as" will-jinjike applicable to na-» ,vql warfare -tlie-’principles'of the Ge- : ntVa'i Coiiveiitiori of- : 1p64. ; :■! j-To ! ,tho’ r a'boye programme Great •Vritairi pi tTposes to' add tlie subject' oi ! lie 'limitatipii' of armaments. - 1 Tliii liopokal, and , the''reasons for believ-i rig that- the time,is ripe for its dis.mssiqii, lire set forth jn Van article’ ii tlie Hew 'newspaper the Nation, '■);.• tlie Prime Minister, ' Sir Henry Aaiipbell-BMiipririaii; lit that arte' •lb lie states that the original'coiifer-'; ence at the Hague was convened tor/ lie purpose of discussing’;the ‘limitatibri of armanieritsl Since I 'then 'the dPideii lia's iiicfeasecl, While tlie points; £ (lisagrcemoiit;hetiveen the .Powers’ re less acute, arid the' sentiriierit hi. hi\ or, of' peace is ''incomparably strop-; ger. Emphasising the 'lcchl.eed expenditure oii her aririamcns’, Sir Hen- .-, '-t!anipb’eß-Bami'6fm’a)i says Great : SHtaiii--is Avilling r tp go further' if .'a riinilhr. Mjsprisition .to rriduce’.expert; dljture if/-fount) 'iii other quarters.; He’adds: ‘’Great Britain’s delegates; will not enter the 1 .Peace Conference-' •jiiipty-lianded. I. do nrit believe tlfe sriggestioii that' exariipfe ,’ivijl count 1 .'ol'‘nothing because ,ouf jircponde'rant laval' position is' mhiiitanieu. ‘ If qqr ldet' is irivji]rie'ra.ble'Jf','caj;ries no irienacei” Afterwim]), it .Was deemed 1 necessary to make an explanation of Gieiit Britain’s 'position.' ’ Lord' I’v eedmouthV First Lord',of. f ile "Adj); miraTty,; in) fife ‘course' of a speecli at-;; Oifqrti, sriitl fliat” tli j ' Govorrinient; 1 injtenclerl frankly to a ftvfc .file. Peace'; Ccuf6rbri.ee:.* that - it desired to reduce;; nrila merits',, thciigli; it) was ( (lete'r'mi'ried' t -> "mairitain. ~Grejit BfitiViii’s jnayy , at, the 't'wri-I*pwer "st;q!idaytl'. ‘ If then .tlie’ off-ef : 'l*qwers refused.'’'to roflu.ee theirj •aijnaineiits tjiey .iriust accept ,t'he Ye-t spoiislbnity.' ’ ' ,' ' V." • *g