DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2342, 19 January 1899, Page 34

DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.

ST. PETERSBURG, January 16. Co\mt MuravieS's circular to the Powers defines the. programme proposed to be submitted for the consideration of the conference. The subjects to be discussed are: 1 The arrest of armaments by nations ; the mitigation of the horrors of warfare ; the extension of the principle of international mediation ; and optional arbitration on matters in dispute between nations.

Count Muravieff, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has addressed a circular note to the Powers in which lie states that, notwithstanding that recent events are apparently antagonistic to the Czar's scheme, Russia still proposes to hold an international disarmament conference, and he asks for the interchange of the viewn of the European Cabinets on the' subject. January 17. The Czar sought an interview with-'Oount Tolstoi, the novelist, and discussed the Peace Conference with" him. Tolstoi favoured the idea.

The French Government are building six submarine boats of the Gustave Zede type. LONDON, January 17.

The Berlin correspondent of the Da,ily News states that Germany hastened the increase of her army because the Czar's staunchest supporter in the peace proposals made no reduction in the proposed new armaments. Germany is building three battleships and two cruisers.