The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-18
Declarati ons of Policy ne the Congo Con.
ference.

BERLIN, Nov. 7.-Prince Bismarck in his
speech at the opening of the Congo Confer
ence on SATURDAY. alluded in generall terms to
the thigh, benefcent and pacific aims which
the conference had before it, 1t had for its
object the solution of three main questions:
FIRST free navigation, with freedom Of trade,
on the Congo river; secondly, free navigation
on the Niger river; thirdly, formslities of valid
annexation of territory to be observed in future
on the continent Of Africa. This constituted
the positive aim of the conference. Negatively,
the conference would not concern itself with
tne present question of sovereignty" The
GnaneeIlor, in conclusion, said he hoped that
tns isoors OF the conference would result in a
'urther increase of peace and good will among
natiens.
or Edward Malet, the British Commits
sloner, in replying to the opening speech
echoed the sentiments expressed BY Prince
Bismarck, and accepted the three points pro-
posed as the basis for discussion, with the fol-
lowing reservation: England" he said, "wss
quite willing to see the principles of free navi-
CATION and the like extended to the Niger, bot
nevertheless she expected that the surveillance
over the exercise OF those principles should
not be made the business of an international
body. That was the duty and privilege OF
England, as she was the chief il not the sole
Droprietsry power on the lower Niger"
Portugal has drawn uD a memorandum to be
submitted to the conference, insisting on her
right to the Congo, and urging that Portuguese
treasure and blood had been freely spent to
maintain order on the Congo for the benefit
OF the commerce of all nations. Portugal, the
memorandum says further, admits the prin-
cipie OF freedom OF passage along the great
African rivers. She has no intention of estsb-
fishing on the Congo restrictive tariff which
prevails in her other colonies
En- Ihe Commons.
LONDON, Nov. 17.--In the House of CON-
mons this evening Gladstone made a speech
with reference to the franchise bill, in which
he said the government desired to pass the
franchise bill without delay, bat they cannot
enter into any understanding with the opposi-
ZION unless they receive adequate assurance
that the Dill will be passed this Autumn. In
tnaI Case the government are ready to make
the main provisions or draft of their redistribu-
ton bill subject OF friendly communication;
or they stand ready to introduce the bill into
the House of Commons forthwith and prose-
cuts IL with all possible speed. They will
make it a vital question with the government
to see that the bill be carried early next year
Referring to the recent letter of Gen. Cor
don to Gen. Wolseley, the Marquis of Harting-
ton said all that was important In the letter
had been published He expressed the hone
that the newspapers would exercise discretion
IN printing news from the Soudan, so as not to
make public information useful to tho Mahdi.
A measure was adopted providing that the
nnsneisl ~, n deficit OF this year, amounting to
1900 GOO, shall be met by adding penny in
the pound to the income tax.
Sir Charles Dixie, president OF the local gov
ernment board, denied the reports that there
was cholera in Egypt.
Gable Notes.
The committee of the French Chamber of
Deputies has decided in favor of the abolition
OF life seDatorships
The municipal council of Paris has passed
resolution temporarily renewing the tax on
bread.
The rebellion in Yemen, Arabia, has uro-
gIessed to such an extent that the Porte has
abandoned the collection of taxes. The au-
thority OF the Sultan over the country is
merely nominal.
dynamite bomb exploded in law court in
Sternberg, Moravia and wrecked the building.
Nobody was injured.
Fitzgerald, the Fenian suspect, who was
acquitted at Dublin on the 10Th inst. of COM
phcity In the Tnbbercurry cases, arrived at
Cork last night. An immense concourse of
people greeted him on his arrival, the horses
we're Embarrassed from his carriage and it was
drawn through the streets by admiring friends.