Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-14
THE OLD WORLD.
Switzerland Sends Bismarck
Defiance.
LABOUCHERE'S CABLE LETTER
Germany Aiming to Crush Out
Social Democracy in the
Swiss Republic.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
BERLIN, July 13-The reply OF th'
Swiss Buudestrath received at the For
eign Office yesterday, though civil il
tone, is none he less defiant. 1t doel
not recede step from the position pre-
viously taken by Switzerland, and il
throughout vindication of the rights o
refugees and of the Swiss toward Ger
man police agents. The tenor of the re-
ply was communicated to the German
Minister at Berne early in the week. The
communication was the signal for the
adoption of stringent measures fol
the scrutiny of travellers crossing the
Swiss frontier, their baggage being mer.
ciessly overhauled and their goods wan.
tonly searched and delayed. Today's
National Zeitung denies that these regu.
lations are reprisals, and declares that
they are due to directions from the I'M
perial customs officials, uniDfuenced by
the Government. The Swiss Canton
authorities, believing otherwise, direct
travellers to proceed through Austrian
territory. The attitude of the Swiss
Government is probably strengthened by
the knowledge that Bismarck's menaces
to Swiss neutrality occasion dissatisfac.
tion. The Emperor has advised Bis
msrck to modify his tone, and thus
avoid aggravating difficulties.
WHAT GERMANY Is AIMING AT.
The North German Gazette, tonight,
commenting on the situation, explains
that the dispatch on June 9th was the
outcome of an understanding with Rus
sia, and proceeds to show that it's object
was, by giving it the tone and tenor of
the identical note presented at the same
time, to sccentuate the impression that
it was intended to produce. 1t purpose,
80 far, has been attained, the Swiss au-
thorities giving due consideration to
Russian representations, and it is ex-
pected that they will ultimately recog-
nize German claims, though in less
friendly and expeditions manner. The
diplomatic action of Germany is aimed
at social democracy in Switzerland.
Against Switzerland itself this policy is
directed only in so far as elements hostile
to the German empire are protected and
promoted there. To combat these ele
ments is the task of the Imperial policy,
tuo uBuI Will uOt Uo hDduuOu6u uutll
the task is fulfilled.
GENERAL GOSSIP.
Court circles are talking about the con-
version of Empress Augusta Victoria to
the Catholic church. She made con-
fession of faith before Able Radij wski,
who is attached to the house hold Of
Prince Radziwill. Count Russellwell,
the Empress Grand Marshal, himself a
Catholic, witnessed the ceremony in
with Prince. Radziwill. The |
Emperor had previously oeen apprised
of her intention.
Severe thunder storms prevailed |
throughout Central Germany yesterday, |
sweeping over Westphalia, Thuringis, |
Bavaria and the Rhine provinces, and
doing much damage. A number of
buildings were struck by lightning.
A sensation has been caused by the
suicide of Count Waldemar Won Blumen-
thai, Prussian sttache at Munich. 1t
is believed that he was engaged to Lady |
Acton, sister of the German Minister at
Washington, who committed suicide yes
terday, and had quarrelled with her.