American Foreign Policy (Volume 17); Based Upon Statements of Presidents and Secretaries of State of the United States and of Publicists of the American Republics (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1920 Excerpt: ... XIV The First Hague Peace Conference, 1899: American Instructions and Report Circular Note of Count Mouravieff, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Proposing the First Peace Conference.--St. Petersburg, August 12, f8$8. The maintenance of general peace and a possible reduction of the excessive armaments which weigh upon all nations present themselves, in the existing condition of the whole world, as the ideal towards which the endeavors of all Governments should be directed. The humanitarian and magnanimous views of His Majesty the Emperor, my august master, are in perfect accord with this sentiment. In the conviction that this lofty aim is in conformity with the most essential interests and the legitimate aspirations of all Powers, the Imperial Government believes that the present moment would be very favorable for seeking, by means of international discussion, the most effective means of ensuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace, and above all of limiting the progressive development of existing armaments. In the course of the last twenty years the longings for a general state of peace have become especially pronounced in the consciences of civilized nations. The preservation of peace has been put forward as the object of international policy. In its name great States have formed powerful alliances; and for the better guaranty of peace they have developed their military forces to proportions hitherto unknown and still continue to increase them without hesitating at any sacrifice. All these efforts nevertheless have not yet led to the beneficent results of the desired pacification. The ever-increasing financial charges strike and paralyze public prosperity at its source; the intellectual and physical strength of the nations, their l...