Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1898 — CZAR IS FOR PEACE. [ARTICLE]

CZAR IS FOR PEACE.

Proposes a Reduction of Large Military Forces. BURDEN IS CRUSHING People Are No Loafer Able to Endure Weight of Vast Armament. Aa the First Step an International Conference on Gradual Ifiarmament la Requested—Note Fraught with Great Import to the Entire World la Sent to All Diplomatic Representatives at St. Petersburg by the Foreign Minister. By order of Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravieff, the Czar’s foreign minister, has handed to the foreign diplomats at St. Petersburg a note declaring the maintenance of peace and the reduction of the excessive armaments now crushing all the nations is the ideal for which all Governments ought to strive. The Czar considers the present moment favorable for the inauguration of a movement looking to this end, and invitee the’powers to take part in an international conference as a means of thus insuring real and lasting peace and terminating the progressive increase of armament. The Czar’s proposition is likely to produce a sensation throughout Europe, and, coming from such a quarter and with such evident sincerity of purpose, it is likely to have'important effects. No doubt is felt that, with Russia taking the lead in such a step, Germany, France and the other nations will be ready to follow. The news that Czar Nicholas has startled the world with a letter advocating an international peace movement, with the ultimate object of cutting down standing armies and putting all civilized nations on a peace footing, has drawn attention to the facts and figures surrounding ’ the vast armies maintained by the European powers and the enormous saving resulting from a universal treaty of peace. All the great powers of Europe have been adding to their standing armies year by year and the building up of navies has never ceased. Russia itself has been foremost in maintaining a large army. Great Armies the Czar Would Disarm. Feace War footing. footing. Russia 817,933 2,420,746 France 539,027 3,440,000 Germany 507,423 2,416,300 Great Britain 226,192 711,264 Great Britain, troops In India 388,900 Great Britain, colonial troops 725,053 Austro-llungary .......337,419 1,872.178 Paly 350,000 3,019,310 Turkey 220,000 1,000,000 Bulgarin 35,650 285,800 Rouuianla .... 152.500 Servla 1 157,500 Switzerland 127,973 480,245 Belgium 48,644 220,968 Holland 68,031 185,000 Sweden and Norway ... 15,000 20,800