The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-19
TWO FORTS ON PANAMA
BOULANGER SAYS THIS COUNTRY
WAS TO BUILD THEM.

a claim That This Country Would
Also Close the Canal in Time of War
The Anger of the Investors Turned
Against the Deputies Rather Than
Against De Lesseps.
PARIS, Dec. Is. Gen. Boulanger, in an
interview yesterday, condemned the gov
ernment for allowing honest people to
think that the Panama canal project was
sure of official patronage, and now
turning its back on it. He
said that when he was in America
in 1881 he was told that when the Panama
canal was finished, t lat the country would
place a fort at each end, that no treaty in
the world would prevent them from closing
tie canal in time of war, and that Colum-
bia would not hinder this action. He
added that he had sent home a secret re-
port on the subject, which vas probably
lying unread on the shelves of tho ministry
of war.
Owing to fears that the Panama Canal
Company's difficulties may give rise to dis
orders on the Isthmus, the French govern
me It has decided TO send a man-of- war to
Colon to protect French interests. 1t is ex-
pected that the United States will send two
war ships to Colon.
Panama canal shareholders on coming to
the companys offices are invited to sigu an
agreement according to which they waive
all claim or interest until the canal shall
have been completed. A few have signed,
but the majority object to the proposed ar
rangeme t.
The tribunal of commerce of the Seine
has declared that it is unable to deal with
the bankruptcy case Of the Panama Canal
Company.
PARLIAMENT BLAMED.
A notable result of the Panama canal
collapse is that both here and in the pro-
vinces all the anger and disappointment Of
| tho investors is directed against parliament,
while sympathy is extended to Count de
Lesseps. Both Count de Leiseps and NJ. de
Normandie have received numer-
| GUS letters from holders of Panama
| shares and bonds, encouraging them with
assurances and promis that every possible
sacrifice would be n ade To save the enter
prise. Nowhere is there heard a word of
complaint against Count de Lesseps, who is
rather regarded as martyr. On the other
hand there is ev ry indication that when
the deputies who voted against the bill
come forward for reelection, they will find
| very intense feeling against them.
ON THE BoURsE.
The feeling on the Bourse is much less
gloomy. To-day there was general rise
| in prices, Panama canal shares advancing
| 12 francs, Rio Tintos IL francs and Suez
canal francs.
The cabinet has decided thst when
| the committees report on the bank
ruptcy bill is presented to the Senate
on Friday, the president of that body shall
ask leave to interrupt the budget debate in
order to detach from the bankruptcy bill
an article applicable to the position of the
| Panama canal company, the object being
| TO save them from bankruptcy.
TWO NEARLY LYScHED
Two persons were nearly lynched to-day
| for spreading false rumors regarding the
| Panama canal. The shareholders of the
canal company have been invited to sign an
| agreement to subscribe for lottery bonds
on future issue at 800 francs, and thous-
ands have already signed.
A few individuals who made deprecatory
| remarks concerning Count DeLesseps were
roughly handled by the crowd around the
offices.
TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS.
| WASHINGTON, ID C. 1S.--It is said at the
navy partnent that q naval vessel will
probably be SO to Colon to protect Ameri-
can interests in Panama, but that steps
have not yet been taken in that direction.
| 1t is customary to station a vessel in that
neighborhood during the winter season.
| Nothing is known OF any troubles on tho
isthmus.
GERMANY's BoERsE.
BERLIN Dec. 18.-The collapse Of the
Panama canal scheme does not attract
great attention here, except as affecting
Boulangerism and the political situation in
France The boerse is more troubled by
apprehensions Of shortness II money at the
end Of the month, when further large ex-
Expected. eyre From to per %
cent. was paid tor loans to-day, while
private discount rose to per cent. Rumors
of an increased tension between France aud
Italy, and Of new Servian complications
arising from the radical victory in the
skuptschi elections also tend ID to depress
prices yesterday. A better feeling was
prevalent to-day, but it was not sufficient
to raise Orices