Wichita eagle., 1889-01-23
FOREIGN ADVIoEs.
The French Chamber of Deputies Items
!. from London.

+ from London.
PARIS, Jan. 22-In the chamber of depu
ties today Bishop Freppet asked wha
measures the government was taking tt
protect the position of France in the Pacific
especially with regard to Easter Island an6
the Cook group. Easter Island, he said
was needed as port of call for ships ply.
ing between Panama and Australia; yet il
was reported that the government had
ceded the island to Chill. Further, al.
though the Tongway' group belonged &c
Tahiti, England had annexed two OF these
| islands. Did the government regard this
| annexation as final? And what action was
| intended in view of the recent English an
nexations in the Cook group?
Admiral krantZ, minister Of marine, re-
| piled that the admirals of the navy had
been consulted on the subject ano all had
agreed that it was useless to retain Easter
island The island had no harbor, and its
population was decreasing. 1t would have
| been necessary to place a garrison on the
| island as otherwise the stores of coal, etc,
deposited there for the use of French ships
would have served the enemy in time of
war. AS for the Cook islands, they had
never belonged to France. English mis-
sionaries, who haa settled there, had urged
the natives 10 assert their independence.
Regarding the Tongway, the government
held that England had no right to retain
the two islands which she had annexed,
although the islands really possessed no
Importance
Bishop Freppet said that Admiral
Krantz' reply had caused as much sur
prise as pain. 1t was clear that the min
istry of marine was only half inform
ed. He maintained the Importance
of Easter island. besides the an
nexation of the Tongways, he said, the
British had neglected no opportunity to
deal blow at French influence in Ocean
lea. The government was either unln-
formed or wanting in frmness. The Brit
ish had annexed Cook islands because the
excellent harbor there enabled them TO
avoid calling at French ports. France
had abandoned Egypt and the New
Hebrides.
The minister of marine, responding,
maintained his ground, adding that
France must claim the whole Tahiti
group, but that if they were not surren-
dered.there would be no reason for declar-
ing war against Great Britain, as the
national honor was in no wise concerned.
The chamber of deputies today finally
discussed the recruiting bill. The men,
bers of the right protested that the meas
ure would aggravate the burdens of the
country. The law of 1872 sufIiced for the
needs of the nation.
NJ de Freycnet, minister of war, replied
that the bill was not Introduced to meet
special circumstances; it was a law for a
national defense. France was compelled
to place 5000, 600 of men IN line Of battle to
defend her frontiers.
The whole bill was passed by vote of
500 to 169 1t is doubtful if the senate will
accept the amendments Of the chamber Of
deputies.
LONDON, Jan 22,-Mr David Sheehy,
member parliament for the south division
of Galway, was arrested today at a hotel
in Glasgow on warrant issued IN Ireland
for violation of the crimes act.
Mr.. Geogl1egan, author of 1.-THE Ian
cashire Witches, ""J John Barleycorn," and
other works, is dead. He was II years
old
The Rt. Rev. Joshua Hughes d. D.,
Bishop of St. Asaph, is dead. He had
been i'll for year and was unable to at
tach his signature to a resignation. The
diocese in consequence has virtually been
without a bishop during that time.
The proposal on the part of the United
States to strengthen their immigration
laws by drastic enactmentS has stirred up
a good deal of feeling on the subject here.
involving criticism by no means gentle or
fair. Not only is the matter watched with
keen interest in England, but the question
is exciting a similar degree of concern on
the continent, not perhaps as measure of
but as means OF
purifying the moral atmosphere
IL is suggested that the colonies,
Canada in particular, have recourse to
similar legislation, aud thus close the
gates against the classes who are likely to
leave the United States and who do leave
that country, both for the country's good
and in order to keep out of jail. The
Globe admits that the bill is a natural one
and perhaps inevitable, but thinks 1t will
prove to be exceedingly serious business
for Europe and also increases the proba-
bility that the Chinese question will be-
forced into unexpected developments, rem
dering the greatest OF all social problems
still more difficult of solution.
The Pail Mall Gazette, referring to the
case of Prof Geffcken, asserts that Prince
Bismarck and his son, Count Henry, are
now regarded as the real rulers OF Ger
many. They have been unable to keep
the court having. declared that there
was no evidence to sustain
the charge. and they are now endeavoring
to have him shut up as lunatic Whether (
they will be able to do this remains to be
seen, but it they shall fail it will not be /
because of their neglect of any means at
their hands TO accomplish their purpose
Mr. Greenwood, formerly editor of the |
St. James Gazette, is about to bring suit /
for damages against Mr.. Gibbs, the former /
proprietor OF that journal, for wrongful !
The action grows cut OF the /
strengthened by a subsequent !
letter from Mr.. Greenwood, that the Ger
obtain control of the paper for political /
purposes.
The directors OF the Rhymney Iron
are advocating a steel rail /
corner" 1t is proposed that sixteen
principal firms engaged in the manufac- |