Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-28
TN THE FATHERLAND.
Emperor William Preparing
For a Foreign Tour.
Parting Instructions Given His
Cabinet Ministers.
The Anti-Grain Law Agitation to be
Treated With Indifference.
The Franco Russian Alliance OMcialiy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Said to
Be a Secret Ally to the
Dreibund.
Associated Press Dispatches.

BERLIN, June 27-[Copyright, 1891, by
the New York Associated Press The
ministerial council which Emperor
William held preliminary to departure
on his coming foreign tour, disposed
temporarily of several questions relating
to the home and foreign policies OF the
government. The ministers have re-
ceived instructions TO accelerate the
negotiations for the formation of Cen
trail European customs union; to leave
the proposed commercial entente with
Russia in suspense; to treat the anti
grain law agitation as non-existent, un-
less food riots occur, and to issue lot
tery amounting to 100000 marks to
assist in furthering the enterprise OF
Major Wissmann in East Africa. Some
proposals looking to the amelioration OF
the condition of the poor of East Prus-
sia were also discussed at the council.
Touching the new zollverein, the
Swiss papers that have French leanings
erroneously state that the government
at Berne has its hands tied by the new
tariff being subject to rearrangement by
the coming conference of the countries
interested in the dreibund. The zoll-
verein, it seems likely, will expedite
customs agreement with Belgium and
Holland in which Luxumberg will
share.
Regarding the grain laws agitation,
the assumed indifference of the minis
ters does not lessen public ferment and
sympathy, and popular outbreaks in
consequence OF the high price of provi-
sions have manifested themselves at
several places. Within a short dis
tance OF the imperial palace at Potsdam,
400 women who were engaged in mar
keting, becoming enraged at the price
demanded for potatoes. assaulted the
dealers and wrecked the market.
The Tageblatt tonight reports that
Miauel, minister of finance, in the
course of conversation with member
of the reichstag, stated that only the
present critical stage of the negotiations
of commercial treaties prevented the
government from repeating the grain
laws.
Berlin papers today comment upon
statement of the minister OF foreign
affairs of France during the course of an
interview, in which this minister ad-
mitted the existence of Franco
Russian alliance. Flourens adds
that the formation of the alli-
ance is the work of the czar, him
self. These statements appearing
simultaneously with Bismarckian arti-
cles in the Hamburger Nachrichten,
enlarging upon the danger OF close
friendship with England, have evoked
indignant replies from the semi-otficial
press, in which the Salisbury govern
ment is openly spoken of as an ally OF
the dreibund. This allusion represents
the official belief that within a recent
period Lord Salisbury has become a
party to the secret convention, commit
ting his government, so long as it re-
mains in his power, to concerted action
with the dreibund.
The foreign office attaches consldera-
BILE importance to the coming visit OF
the young king of Servia 10 the czar,
and to the arrangements made to give
the visit distinct political signitca-
ton.
References made to letters from Rome,
regarding the candidature OF Cardinal
La Vigerie to the holy see, have aroused
the antagonism of the Germans to the
idea of French pope.
The Kreuz Zeitung holds that it is
probable that the successor to Leo Nil
will be drawn from the italian cardinal
ate, and if the next pope be not an ltal-
ian, the choice Of the conclave will be
Cardinal Gibbons of the United States,
against whom neither national jealous
les nor internal clerical differences can
ODprata