The Portland daily press., 1885-06-08
THE OLD WORLD.
Discussions in the British Govern
ment Not Yet Settled,
And 1t Remains on the Verge Of Dis
ruptiOn.
The Afghan Frontier Question
Finally Settled Satisfactorily.
Reported Assassination Of the Ameel
Unf0unded.
Over Three Hundred Buildings in
Constantinople Destroyed
by Fire.

by Fire.
LONDON, June mo progress has been
made during the past week in allaying the dis
senslons In the British government, and the
government remains on the verge OF disrup-
lion. Mr. Chamberlain is ambitious to be-
cone premier, and Sir Charles Dixie, immu-
taoly radical, still stubbornly refuses to assent
TO Giadstone's announced policy OF renewing
Lne irish Grimes act 1t is true that that
grfao old man" yesterday retreated from his
original position on the question far enough to
auLnle tnat tne government now meant only to
rene" the bill modified, bnt the rebels in the
cabinet insist there exists in Ireland no reason
ana no prospect OF any reason for its renewal
In any form. While neither Chamberlain
nor Dixie has stared in public that he will re-
sign II the premier persists in his renewal
policy, 1t is generally understood both have
actually threatened to do so and it is not be.
lieved the modified policy announced yester-
day by the prime minister in any wise has ao-
tuated the threat. The quarrel in the cabinet
has in fact extended to other matters. The
radical ministers are just as much opposed to
the plan of the electoral campaign formulated
for the coming election by the Whig members
as to renewal of the Grimes act and the
number OF ministerial rebels on this point is
larger even than that arrayed against renewal.
Cham berlain, chairman of the board of trade.
Dixie, president of the local government
board; G. o. Trevelyau, John Bright's success
sor in the chancellorship of the Dncbv of Lam
caster, and G. l. Shaw Lefevre, Postmaster
General, al! insist on radical platform, and
these gentlemen agree that the principal
planks IN the liberal platform should be, first,
reform in the constitution of the House of
Lords reducing the number of hereditary peers
and increasing the number OF life titles; sec
ond, reform OF the law on entail which works
towards division rather than concentration
OF land titles; third, general reform in the
land laws of Great Britain, to AlLp end that the
number of holdings in fee be increased and
titles TO land be more easily obtained fourth,
Tor Ireland the widest possible measures of
selr-governmeDt consistent with the unity of
the British empire; fifth, public denomina-
al education on principles accepted by the
Irish party.
The Whig faction in the cabinet refuse
steadtastly TO adopt any of these five prin-
ciples III the platform of the liberals for the
coming campaign, hence the party will enter
the canvass weak from lack of cohesion and
on this account it Is more than probable that
Gladstone will be induced to remain in politics
and power for the purpose of personally CON
duetlng the campaign for that party, for the
Liberals have no other man for the task.
The French Strengthening their Position
the Red Sea.
PARIS, June 6.-Because of Italy's efforts at
aggrandizement along the Red Sea west coast,
the government of France has resolved to
strengthen the colony at Obock. Another gum
boat and an additional force of troops will soon
be despatched.
Reported Assassination of the Ameer of
Afghanistan.
ST. PETERSBURG, jane 6.-The Noyosti.
newspaper, announces that it has been pri-
vately informed from the Caucasus that the
Ameer of Afghanistan (Abdurrahman) had
been murdered by his suite. 1t is said that the
murder took place in Persia, where the Ameer
Nnnn NJ fhn
Khan, the deposed Ameer, will be his success
sor The report causes much excitement.
LONDON, June 6,-The reported murder of
the Ameer OF Afghanistan is doubted in official
circles here, as the government had received
no information up to late hour this afternoon
tending to confirm the rumor. Some believe
that the report is stock jobbing canard.
LONDON, June THE Daily telegram
states there IL absolutely no foundation for the
report OF the assassination of the Ameer and
that the report was telegraphed to the St.
Petersburg Novosti from Vienna and not from
Caucasus as alleged.
The Afghan Frontier Question Finally
and Satisfactorily Settled.
LONDON, June 6.-The Pail Mall Gazette
says that it is glad to be able to state, upon the
highest authority, that the long standing oues-
tion OF difference between England and Russia
concerning the northwest Afghan frontier has
been finally and satisfactorily settled, a
dennlte agreement has been arrived at op all
questions OF principle. The commissioners
VIII forthwith commence to mark precisely the
delimltation of the boundary. They are now
on the spot. The Gazette believes that the
above might have been announced last week
but for difference of opinion concerning a
m more precise dehnition OF the frontier east of
Zulfksl. The Penjdeh incident will be re-
terred to the King of Denmark, who has in
formally agreed to accept the Office of arbitra-
tor The arbitration will be rigidly confined to
the Interpretation of the sacred covenant of
March 10TH
Houses Swallowed by Fresh EARTHQUAKES
in Cashmere.
SMLA, June 6.-Reports from Cashmere to-
day are to the effect that the shocks of earth
quake continue. The earth has opened in
several places, swallowing number of houses
Hot water and clouds of sulphurous dust have
been elected from the chasms. These phen-
omena are accompanied by loud rumblings.
LONDON, june 7.-Earthqaake shocks at
points in the vale of Cashmere continue at in
tervsls averaging three hours in length. The
whole village has been engulfed, and terrible
s1oterranean noises are heard, driving the peo-
pie frantic with fear. The horrors Of an an
preaching famine are added to other results Of
the disaster, as many thousands of bushels of
grain have been swallowed up in the chasms
constantly opening.
Don't Want Their B eer Taxed.
A mass meeting, attended by 10000 persons,
was held in London this afternoon to denounce
the action of Childer, the chancellor of the ex-
chequer, IN increasing the duties on beer and
Spirits
Sir Peter Lumsden in London.
The platform of the Charing Gross Railroad
station was crowded this forenoon with a dis
tlnguished assemblsge to Sir Peter Lumsden.
ne was given an enthusiastic reception,
amounting to an ovation.
Rriaish Tro0ua Evncu.,s..-. u-
Gen. Butler telegraphs from Egvpt that the
whole British force has reached Doneola: that
all stations south OF that place have been
evacuated, and 1925 refugees have gone north.
Ex-Minister Lowell Honored.
Mr.. Lowell was today waited upon by
deputation OF the Workmen's Peace Associa-
tlon, Wao presented him an address declaring
thelf admlratlon OF the manner in which he
had fulfilled his diplomatic functions and ex-
pressing the appreciation OF British workmen
OF his continuous and kindly support of the
great principle "Pesce and good will toward
men," Mr.. LowelPs reply expressed pleasure
at receiving the latest proof of English good
WILL Wl.. Lhe workmen of England" he said,
were al class for whom he had alWsys fell
great admiration. War between England and
America would be nothing less than q civil
war, but such however was impossible, as the
relations between the two countries were of a
most friendly character. He had always done
his best to maintain amity." Mr.. Lowell viii
start for America tomorrow.
French Man-of- War Foundered.
LONDON, June 7.-Che French man-of-war
W. Il: Renard with crew of 92 souls is be-
heVed to have foundered in the Red Sea.
Great Fire at ConstantinopIe.
LONDON, June IA great fire is raging
along the docks in Constantinope,
CoNsTANTINoPLE, June 7.-Three hundrsd
houses nifty shops and three mosques in the