PEACE CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 7

PEACE CONFERENCE

THE PROGRAMME KEDUCTIO-V OF ARMAMENTS. omitted from the agenda. PAPER. PRACTICAL DISCUSSIONS WANTED. Dy Telesraph-Prcsa Association-Copyright. ST. PETERSBURG, April 4. Russia proposes lliat June loth he the date of the opening of Tlie Hague Peace Convention, and declines to insert in the official programme the question of limitation of armaments or the Drago doctrine. LONDON. April 4. Several Governments, including Britain, Japan. Germany, and Russia, reserve the liberty of not participating in any discussion which is unlikely to yield ‘practical results. The "'Drago doctrine ’* mentioned in tho cubic message has reference to a disarmament agreement arrived at in VJO2 bv the Argentine Republic ami Chili, on the initiation of Dr Lais M. Drago, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the former country. This agreement provided that the Argentine and (.lubau Governments renounced tho acquisition of war-vessels they hud in course of construction, and also relinquished for tho time being any fresh acquisitions. Roth Governments agreed, moreover, to reduce their respective fleets, "to which end they will continue to treat until Ihev urx'ive at an agreement ■which shall effect a prudent equilibrium between 1 the said fleets." Tins reduction was to i>(■ made within one year, and the two Governments bound themselves not to increase during five years their naval armaments, without previous notice, which tho one desirous of -increasing shall give to the other eighteen months in advance. Ruling the progress, in 1902. of a dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain, Germany, and Italy regarding enforcement of claims for property of foreign residents damaged during revolutionary fighting. Dr Drago, AnrvnHne Minister for Foreign Affaire, atrdrcss'pd a note to the Argentine Minister at "Washington protesting against the collection of public debts by naval or military forces.