This speech, spoken in an impassioned voice, aroused amazement. Many could not refrain from applause; others could hardly help shaking their heads. Some one is said to have remarked, “Bebel, out and out!” Now the Russian motion was submitted. THE PROGRAMME Colonel von Schilinsky’s remarks: ... “It may be asked, gentlemen, whether the nations represented at the Conference will be perfectly satisfied if we bring them the arbitration tribunal and laws for seasons of war, but nothing for seasons of peace,—this armed peace, which bears so heavily upon them that often the statement is heard that an open war would be better than this concealed war of armaments, this perpetual rivalry where every nation exhibits greater armies in time of peace than it ever did before during the greatest wars. ... “Moreover, this continued increase of military power fails to attain its object, for the relative strength of the various countries remains the same. If any government increases its troops, forms new battalions, its neighbor follows its example without delay, so as to preserve the proportions; the neighbor’s neighbor does the same, and so it goes on without end. The effective increases, but the proportions remain about the same. ... “Moreover, we are proposing nothing new. The limitation of contingents and of the budget has long been customary in many countries. For example, there is the _Septennat_ in Germany. This means that the total number of the troops in time of peace is fixed for seven—now five—years. In Russia also the war budget is established on a five years’ basis. So it is a question of well-known measures which have been used for a long time, which alarm no one, and which bring about good results; it is a question of applying these regulations for even a shorter time, if you please. The only novelty about it is the resolution, the courage to state that it is time to call a halt. And Russia moves that we call a halt.” After Colonel von Schilinsky had spoken, Captain Sheïn made a similar proposal for the navy. All this perfectly corresponds with what Emperor Nicholas said to Stead, and also with the utterances that Muravieff had made in my presence. The truth is, the Russian government, in the presence of the whole world, in behalf of the welfare of all nations, has officially proposed to the other governments that they should come to an agreement henceforth not to increase armaments. At the same time, it has clearly opened up the prospect of a subsequent reduction. The accompanying proposals for a permanent tribunal, the arbitration code, and the propositions regarding mediation as well,—all this shows that, whatever the decisions of the Conference may be, the promoters have done their part honorably.