The Portland daily press., 1888-01-09
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.
The Powers Preparing for War while
Talking OF Peace.
wIIfred Blunt Forced TO Wear Con-
vIct's Dress.
Alarming Report from Paris Con-
cernIng Emperor William.

BERLIN, Jan. IA calm. which official
aud diplomatic circles know to be deceptive.
prevails for the moment. The Austrian and
Russian governments have exchanged assur-
ances Of peace aspirations, to which nobody
attaches the slightest Importance. The only
actual change in the situation tending
toward peace is the active resumption Of
negotiations between Count Kalnoky, the
Austrian Foreign Minister, and Prince Lo-
banoff, the Russian ambassador at Vienna,
for the settlement Of the balance Of power In
the Balkan peninsula. This mitigates the
crisis and removes Abe danger Of war, at
least for the present, but 1t does not modify
any Of the essential differe nces between the
two governments. The negotiations are ex-
pected by both sides to end in an exact dehni-
tion of the respective demands, such a. here
tofore has not existed, and from which may
be obtained valid excuse for war. They
know, also, that it is impossible to obtain
from the powers a joint mandate. Baffied
on these points, Russia win next raise new
question on Austria's retention Of Bosnia
and Herzegovina. These provinces were oe-
cupied under purely temporary title, but
are now practically annexed. Austria viii
be called upon to evacuate them, and 1t Is
probable that the question OF their future
administration win be referred to a confer
ence OF the powers. An ostensible easus belll.
IL is anticipated, will arise over Austrias
refusal to divide the Balkans.
According 10 a semi official despatch re-
ceiyed from Vienna tonight, Prince Lebanon
has opened the diplomatic campaign by pro-
posing as the first step toward an entente,
the removal Of Prince Ferdinand from the
throne Of Bulgaria, under Joint mandate Of
the powers, the election OF new prince BY
new Sobranjs and the reaPpointment OF kns-
sian officers to the Bulgarian army. The
proposal specifies that the new prince must
be a member Of the orthodox Greek church.
and the Sobranje so elected as TO enable
Russia to recognize 1t as being legally con-
stituted. In the mean time, the Foreign
Office here holds aloof from the negotiations
which are recognized as feelers by Russia
toward other demands. The Cars minis-
ters already know that Count KalnOky VIII
not admit that the Berlin treaty gives Russia
any special right TO interfere In Bulgaria.
Only the determination OF Austria can now
precipitate a war. IL the Kalnoky govern
ment is too timid to cut short the negotla-
tions and demand the reason for the eoncen-
tration Of Russian troops on the frontier,
Russia can select her time for "a rupture.
Meanwhile, despite semi-official assurances
to the contrary, war preparations progress
on either side. The Warsaw arsenal Is work.
ing day and night. At Kovno, more exten-
sive earthworks and detached forts are being
constructed. and the defences Of Ivan-Gorvel
are being armed with heavy guns. Cracow
papers report that the Russians are erecting
a bridge at the junction OF the San with the
Vistula, and are forming there also cavalry
camp. They also report that 4,OOO amDu-
lance beds were distributed last week along
the stations on the Vistula line, that mill
tary intelligence bureau has been established
at PiotrkOff. and that the valuables, pictures
and art treasures in the imperial residences
in Poland are being removed to the interior
of Russia.
hostilities will be one Of friendly neutrality.
This fact is known to the Berlin Foreign
Office. No Overtures have ever been maze
by the German government Tor Englands
cooperation In the triple alliance
Mgr. PersIco's Denial.
DUBLIN, Jan. mgr. PersIco, the Papal
envoy, denies that he Is intriguing to put
pressure upon Irish priests. A letter ap-
peared In today's Gazette from the vicar OF
an Irish Bishop to priest, to the effect that
the bishop had heard from Mgr. Persico that
the priest was to be prosecuted, and the
writer urges the priest to avoid anything
likely to bring him within the reach OF the
new statute. Mgr Persico explains that
county magistrate wrote 10 him, complaining
of a speech made by the priest. The magis-
trate said that the priest bad violated me
law ana W0ulu De prosecutor AuA ~ NVh ..
Mgr Persco replied that he was sorry that
such an offence had been committed, that ne
would write 10 the priests bishop, ana tnat
he hoped the matter would be passed over.
Mr.. Blunt In Jail.
GALWAY, Ire, Jan. 7.-lmmediately after
| the decision in Mr.. Blunt's case, he was con-
veyed to the Jail. He was followed by a
large crowd, whom the police attempted TO
| avoid by a run. This proved futile, and
conflict occurred between the crowd and the
police. during which swords and bat0ns were
used. Several persons were injured
DUBLIN, Jan. 7.-Wilfred Blunt has
donned the prison garb under protest.
The Kalser's Health.
PARIS, Jan. TT Is reported here that the
condition Of the Emperor Of Germany Is
| quite serious. 1t is said that he is confined
/ to his bed and has had several fainting
/ spells.
LONDON, Jan. Sin dense fog collision
| occurred between the steamers ShOreham
and Coolstrup off Dover. The former sunk
and seven persons we're drowned
Foreign Notes.
Bonamy Price, NJ: A. Professor Of Pollti-
cal Economy at Oxford University, Is dead,
aged SO.
A swine plague prevails in the south OF
| France, and 10000 animals have died In the
| Marseilles district within month.
| Rev. Mr.. SpurgeOn will celebrate tomorrow
by the publication Of his two thousandtn
sermon.