Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Hitchcock to Mr. Hay.

Embassy of the United States,
St. Petersburg, January 14, 1899.

No. 230.]

Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of January 12, and to inclose herewith copy of a translation of Count Mouravieff’s second circular, dated December 30, 1898 (January 11, 1899), upon the subject of the conference to consider the question of the progressive growth in the expense of national armaments and what, if any, means can be found to minimize the existing evils.

This able document seems to require no especial comment at the present time further than to note that the Imperial Government has, upon further consideration, deemed it best to abandon the idea of holding the conference at St. Petersburg, and to suggest that it meet at some other place than one of the great capitals, on account of the political influences which might affect its deliberations.

In handing me the circular Count Mouravieff laid emphasis upon the fact that the suggestions made by the Imperial Government regarding the deliberation of the conference are to be considered not as an outline of its policy, but as tentative remarks embodying its opinions, upon which the comments of the other powers will be welcomed, as will any further suggestions from their side.

I have, etc.,

Ethan A. Hitchcock.

[Inclosure in No. 230.—Translation.]

St. Petersburg, December 30, 1898.

Mr. Ambassador: When, during the month of August last, my August Master ordered me to propose to the governments who had accredited representatives in St. Petersburg the meeting of a conference for the purpose of seeking the most efficient means of assuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace, and above all to place a limit upon the progressive development of existing armaments, nothing seemed opposed to the realization in the comparatively near future of this humanitarian project.

The welcome reception accorded to the measure of the Imperial Government by almost all the powers can but justify this hope. Appreciating fully the sympathetic manner in which the adhesion of almost all the governments has been expressed, the Imperial Cabinet has at the same time received with the liveliest satisfaction the evidences of hearty assent which have been addressed to it, and which do not cease to arrive from all classes of society of the different parts of the world.

Notwithstanding the great current of opinion which has been produced in favor of a general pacification, the political horizon has sensibly changed in its aspect recently. Several powers have proceeded with new armaments, enforcing additional increase of their military forces, and in the presence of this uncertain situation one might be led to ask whether the present moment is opportune for an international discussion of the ideas set forth in the circular of August 12–24.

Hoping, however, that the elements of trouble which agitate the political world will soon give place to a calmer order of things and one of a nature to encourage the success of the proposed conference, the Imperial Government for its part is of the opinion that it will be possible to proceed at once with a preliminary exchange of ideas among the powers with a view—

(a) Of seeking without delay for means of placing a limit upon the progressive increase of land and naval armaments, a question which plainly is becoming more and more urgent in view of the new increase of these armaments; and

(b) To prepare the way for a discussion of the questions relating to the possibility of preventing armed conflicts by the pacific means at the disposition of international diplomacy.

In case the powers consider the present moment favorable for the meeting of a conference on these bases, it certainly will be useful for the cabinets to agree among themselves upon the subject of a programme of its work.

The themes to submit to an international discussion at the actual conference might generally be summed up in the following manner:

1. An understanding stipulating the nonincrease for a fixed term of the present effectives of land and naval forces, as well as of the war budgets relating thereto; a preliminary study of the manner in which there might be even realized in the future a reduction of the effectives and the budgets above mentioned.

2. Interdiction of the putting into use in armies and navies of any new firearms whatever, and of new explosives, as well as more powerful powders than those now adopted, as well for guns as for cannon.

3. Limitation of the use in land campaigns of explosives of great power already in existence, and the prohibition against the throwing of all projectiles and explosives from balloons, or by similar means.

4. The interdiction of the use in naval warfare of submarine torpedo boats or plungers, or other engines of destruction of the same nature; engagement not to build in the future war vessels with rams.

5. The adaptation to naval warfare of the stipulations of the Geneva Convention of 1864, upon the basis of the additional articles of 1868.

6. Revision of the declaration in regard to the laws and customs of war, elaborated in 1874 by the Brussels conference and still remaining unratified.

7. The acceptance in principle of the usage of good offices, of mediation, and of optional arbitration for such cases as lend themselves to it, with a view of preventing armed conflicts between nations; an understanding upon the subject of their mode of application, and the establishment of a uniform code of practice in their use.

It is clearly understood that all questions concerning the political relations of states, and of the established order of things by treaty, as, in general, all questions which do not enter directly into the programme adopted by the cabinets ought to be absolutely excluded from the deliberations of the conference.

In addressing to you, Mr. Ambassador, the request to have the goodness to obtain the instructions of your Government upon the subject of my present communication, I would ask you at the same time to bring to its notice that in the interest of the great cause which lies so near the heart of my August Master, His Imperial Majesty considers that it would be well for the conference not to meet in the capital of one of the great powers, where there are concentrated so many political interests, which might perhaps react against the progress of a work in which are interested in a like degree all the countries of the world.

Accept, etc.,

Count Mouravieff.