The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-03-28
IMMENSE international IMPORTANCE

Copyright 1891 by New York Associated Press.
BERLIN, March 21.-Dispatches re-
ceived by the foreign office from st. Pc
tersburg convey the unwelcome informa-
ton pointing to the conclusion of a formal
treaty of alliance between France and
Russia. Until recently the car had re-
sisted all attempt of going beyond en-
tente with France.
A draft of the treaty prepared in Paris
in 1887 and approved by M. Degiers,
Grand Dukes Nicholas and vi, diner and
other chiefs of the imperial council at the
port of Russia and which was then re-
jected by the czar, but was again pre-
scented to him after the last election in
France had confirmed the permanency of
the republican form of government IN
that country and was again rejected, but
has finally received his sanction as an
event of such immense international i'm
portance. This cannot be kept a secret.
1t Is expected that Nj. Degiers, minister
of foreign affairs, will cause some in
formal notification to reach the govern
ment of Drlebund. As a cOrUllary of the
alliance the cZar, it is stated, has signed
a decree bestowing upon President Carnot
grand Gordon of the order of st. Andrew,
| the highest Russian decoration and one
limited to members of the imperial family.
This decoration has hitherto been con-
ferred as an exceptional honor on SOW
ereigns nearly connected with the Russian
throne. If the foreign office here has
precise knowledge regarding the terms
of the reported RussO-French conven-
ton, highly placed officials have not
been allowed to share 1t.
The honor conferred upon President
CarnOt is the open talk of diplomatic
circles. The announcement that IL had
been conferred has been telegraphed
here under sanction of st. Petersburg
authorities. No open dispatch can be
obtained regarding the conclusion of the
treaty.
Interest in the Won Boetticher incident
was increased after it became known that
the empress visited the minister today
and remained over an hour conversing
with him and Nine. Won BOetticher.
Chancellor Won Caprivi afterward called
upon the minister. Both visits were de-
signed to signify that Minister Won BOet-
ticher retained the confidence of the en-
press and the government. 1t implied
also the determination of the emperor to
stand by the minister whom Prince Bis
marck is attacking. The chancellor is a
persistent bater and will never forgive
what he considers as DR.. o Boetticher's
ingratitude in joining with his (Bis-
marck's) enemies on the eve of his fall.
1t was undoubtedly through Prince Bis
marck that DR.. Won Boetticher secured a
donation Of 100000 marks, which en-
abled him him to meet the liabilities in
Cured through his bankrupt brother-in-
law. DR.. Won BOetticher's friends says
the doctor supposed the gift was from the
private purse of Emperor William and
not from the Guelph fund under the dis
posal of Prince Bismark as chancellor.
The fact is that Minister Won Boetticher
took money from Prince Bismarck with
out asking him from what source it had
been received, and received from the
present emperor the high honor OF the
decoration of the Order of the Black
Eagle for afterward helping to bring
about the downfall of Prince Bismarck.
Public discussion of the affair will
doubtless incite in the Rechstag a move
ment to regulate the use OF the Guelph
secret service fund. Members of the
Freisinnige party will seize this oppor-
tunity to lead an attack on the govern
ment on the question of the concealment
of the fact of misrepresentation of funds.
| The members on the center and a num-
Der of conservatives will support the
Fr~eissinnige party in this matter with a
view to depriving the government OF the
use of these vast secret resources beyond
control of the Reichstag. The prospects
of a renewal of the friendly relations
between the emperor and Prince Bis
marck have become mere remote owing
to his majesty's ostentatious favOritism OF
the ex .chancellor's enemy. 1t was just 9
wear yesterday since Prince Bismarck
resigned the chancellOrship.