Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-03
In THE FATHERLAND.
The Trend of Events at the
German Capital.
No Offer to Mediate in the
Chilean Affair.
A Wet and Cherries Day in
Berlin.
France is Too Late In the Negotiation Of
Commercial Alliances-The
German Catholic Party's
Reward.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
BERLIN, Jan. 2.-lCopyrighted by the
New York Associated press. Reports
reached here by cable that the German
minister had offered the good offices Of
Germany as mediator between Chile and
the United States. These reports have
been semi-officially denied. Theforeign
department does not think it necessary
to telegraph the minister asking. how the
rumor arose, as no instructions warrant
ing interference have been sent him.
THE KAIsER's NEW YEAR.
Bleak winds and drenching rains
ushered in the new year. Such miser-
able weather, of course, had some effect
on the celebration of the day. The
court functions were the same
as usual. At the levee where
all the commanding generals, govern
ment officials and court officers filed
past the throne, the emperor wore the
gala uniform of Prussian general, with
the ribbon of the order of the Black
Eagle. The empress was attired in a
magnificent court robe. She also wore
the ribbon of the Black Eagle and the
decorations of many other orders. At
noon the emperor rode to the arsenal to
perform the usual New Years ceremony
of giving parole to the troops. Every
body expected him to make i'm
portant utterances on this occasion, but
he said nothing beyond few words.
In addressing group of officers he ad-
vised them to speedily acquire knowl-
edge of the power and use of the latest
military improvements.
FRANCE rs TOO LATE.
The French government is too late in
trying to meet the dreibund's zollverein
by commercial alliances with various
European states. Overtures have been
made from Paris to Sweden, Denmark,
Greece and Italy and are perfectly
known in Berlin. These overtures till
now have resulted in nothing further
than an agreement with Greece ,sisu
Denmark; both these allies of Russia
are getting the minimum French tariff
in exchange for favored nation" treat
ment to France. Negotiations for a
treaty with Italy have ceased. With
Sweden, France stands better chance,
but nothing the Paris government can
do now can weaken the dreibund's zoll-
verein, which ere long will include Bel
GUM, Holland, Roumania and Servia,
and probably Spain.
CATHOLIC CONCESSION.
For the solid vote OF the Centrists in
the reichstag, which enabled the gov
ernment to pass the commercial treaties,
that party is about to obtain long
desired concession granting the clergy
greater control of instruction in the phi
mary schools. Count Won Zedlitz, min
lister of public worship, will submit to
the landtag a project comforting power
on the clergy to examine candidates Tor
| teacherships on religious questions. The
Catholics regard the CONCESSION as one
which will enable the clergy to control
the schools through the teachers The
| project will cause bitter fight in The
landtag, as the Conservatives hold that
it will pervert the character OF the pub.
lie schools.
| INFLUENzA's VICTIMS.
| Influenza has claimed another victim
among the diplomats in this cit'. The
Marquis de Penafel, ambassador OF
Portugal to Germany, died here today
from that disease.
THE CzARINA's ILLNESS.
Advices from st. Petersburg are that
the illness of the czarina is low fever,
partly due to worrying over plot
against the czar in which the highest
court and imperial personages are sus-
pected Private letters state that some
of these plots aimed at obtaining con-
stitution by which the mobiles and land
holders will appoint members OF the
assembly.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Rumors are current that negotiations
are proceeding to obtain the adhesion OF
Russia to the commercial convention,
but there is no foundation for them.
Among the New Year articles APP
pearing in the German press, is one in
the National Zeitung, which specially
comments upon the growth OF the
| American union as the decisive factor OF
the century.
The Frankfort Gazette announces that
immense quantities of wheat and rye
have been stored in the Rhine fortresses.
The wheat, it saye, was chiefly I'M
ported.
GERMAN-AMERICAN CITIZENS.
/ The American legation here is busy
with cases OF American citizens OF Ger
man birth, who have been arrested in
this country for desertion form the
army. American Minister Phelps finds
| the government ready to accede to any
reasonable demand for the release OF re-
| turned deserters, even when the laws
would permit of their retention, but il
would be better if men liable to prose
cution ON this charge should remain IN
their adopted country.
Generous Americans.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. Hon. Charles
Emery Smith, United States minister te
| Russia. has handed Rev. Mr.. Francis,