Chapter I Despatch from Lord reply to the second circular. "Her Majesty's Government have learnt with satisfaction that the Russian Government persevere in Salisbury in their efforts towards this desirable object. It is undoubtedly true, as stated in Count Mouravieff's note, that since the first proposal made on this subject, in August, 1898, there has been some increase in the armament of several Powers, but this increase, in which, unless Her Majesty's Government are erroneously informed, the Russian Government have themselves in some degree participated, has, in their opinion, been more of a precautionary than of an aggressive nature, and need not be considered as indicating any diminution of the general interest and sympathy with which the Emperor's first proposal was received. "Her Majesty's Government will, therefore, gladly accept the invitation which Count Mouravieff contemplates for a Conference to discuss the best methods of attaining the two objects specified in his Excellency's note, namely: the diminution of armaments by land and sea, and the prevention of armed conflicts by pacific, diplomatic procedure. With regard to the eight points enumerated by Count Mouravieff as proper subjects for discussion by the Conference, Her Majesty's Government would prefer for the present to abstain from expressing any definite opinion. They note that Count Mouravieff himself stated to your Excellency that the Russian Government must for the present observe a similar attitude. It is indeed clear that, in regard to some of these points, much must depend upon the views and intentions which may be found to be Chapter I entertained by the majority of the Powers, and a conclusion in respect to them can scarcely be arrived at without careful expert examination. As regards the eighth point, it is not necessary for Her Majesty's Government to make any fresh declaration of their earnest desire to promote, by all possible means, the principle of recourse to mediation and arbitration for the prevention of war. "Her Majesty's Government accept willingly the proviso made by Count Mouravieff, that questions concerning the political relations between States, the order of things established by Treaties, and generally all questions not directly included in the programme of the Conference, should be excluded from its deliberations. 66 They also agree with Count Mouravieff that it may be desirable that the meeting should be held at some other place than the capital of one of the Great Powers, although it would have been a satisfaction to them that the Conference, which owes its initiative to the Emperor, should have assembled at St. Petersburg, had His Imperial Majesty thought fit to propose it. "You will read this despatch to Count Mouravieff and leave his Excellency a copy of it. The Hague On February 9 (January 28, old style), Count selected as the Mouravieff informed the invited Governments that meeting. place of Chapter I Text of the formal invita tion of the Netherlands the Imperial Government had communicated with The formal invitation of the Netherlands Government was extended by the Minister of the NetherGovernment. lands to each of the invited Powers, and was dated April 7, 1899. It read as follows: "The Imperial Russian Government addressed on the 12th (24th) August, 1898, to the Diplomatic Representatives accredited to the Court of St. Peters- Chapter I burg a Circular expressing a desire for the meeting of an International Conference which should be commissioned to investigate the best means of securing to the world a durable peace, and of limiting the progressive development of military armaments. "This proposal, which was due to the noble and generous initiative of the august Emperor of Russia, and met everywhere with a most cordial reception, obtained the general assent of the Powers, and His Excellency the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs addressed on the 30th of December, 1898 (11th January, 1899), to the same Diplomatic Representatives a second Circular, giving a more concrete form to the general ideas announced by the magnanimous Emperor, and indicating certain questions which might be specially submitted for discussion by the proposed Conference. "For political reasons the Imperial Russian Government considered that it would not be desirable that the meeting of the Conference should take place in the capital of one of the Great Powers, and after securing the assent of the Governments interested, it addressed the Cabinet of The Hague with a view of obtaining its consent to the choice of that capital as the seat of the Conference in question. The Minister for Foreign Affairs at once took the orders of Her Majesty the Queen in regard to this request, and I am happy to be able to inform you that Her Majesty, my August Sovereign, has been pleased to authorize him to reply that it will D Chapter I What States were invited. be particularly agreeable to her to see the proposed Conference at The Hague. "Consequently, my Government, in accord with the Imperial Russian Government, charges me to invite the Government of to be good enough to be represented at the above-mentioned Conference, in order to discuss the questions indicated in the second Russian Circular of the 30th December, 1898 (11th January, 1899), as well as all other questions connected with the ideas set forth in the Circular of the 12th (24th) August, 1898, excluding, however, from the deliberations everything which refers to the political relations of States, or the order of things established by Treaties. 66 My Government trusts that the Gov ernment will associate itself with the great humanitarian work to be entered upon under the auspices of His Majesty, the Emperor of all the Russias, and that it will be disposed to accept this invitation, and to take the necessary steps for the presence of its Representatives at The Hague on the 18th May, next, for the opening of the Conference, at which each Power, whatever may be the number of its Delegates, will have only one vote." These invitations were issued to all Governments having regular diplomatic representation at St. Petersburg, as well as to Luxemburg, Montenegro, and Siam. No official explanation of the principle upon which invitations were issued or withheld was given, and any discussion of the causes which led to the |