The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-03
Biting Winds and Drenching Rains
Prevailed in Berlin on New
Years Day.
France Unable to Effect a Com
1nercial Union Against the
Zollverein.
Concession to the Catholics In Return for
support In the Reichstag
Othor Foreign News.

lCopyr1ghts 1857 New YOrk Associated Press.
BERLIN. Jsn. p Reports hsye reached
here by cable that the German ministe,
had offered the good Offices Of Germany q
mediator between Chilli and tho United
States. These reports have been semi-of-
fcially denied. The foreign department
does not think ii necessary to telegraph the
minister asking how the rumor arose. a. NO
instructions warranting interference have
been sent him.
Bleak winds and drenching rains Insured
in tho new year. Suoh miserable weather
of course, had soms effect on the selebra-
tion Of the day. Court fanctions were the
same a. usual. At a levse where all COM
manding generals, governments officials and
court officers fled past the throne, the ON.
peror wore the gala uniform of Prussian
general with ribbon of the order Of th.
Black Eagle. The empress was attirsd in d
magnificent court robe. She also wore
ribbon of the Black Eagle and the dscora.
tions of many other orders. Al
noon the emperor rode to the ar
senal to perform the usual New
Years ceremony of giving parole to the
troops. Everybody here expected him to
make important uttsrancss on this occa-
sion. but he said nothing beyond few
words in addressing the group of officers.
He advised them to speedily acquire knowl-
edge of the power and use of the latest mill
ltary improvements.
The French government is too late in try
ing to meet the dreibund's xollverein by
commercial alliances with various European
states. Overtures made from Paris to
sweden, Denmark, Greece and Italy are
perfectly known in Berlin. These over
lures, till now. have resulted In nothing
further than an agreement with Greece and
Denmark, both these allies of Russia get
ting the minimum French tariff in exchange
for favored nation treatment to Franco.
Negotiations for treaty with Italy have
ceased. With Sweden France stands bet
ter chance, but nothing the Paris govern
ment can do now can weaken the drsi-
bnnd's zoNyerein, which ere long will in
ciuTd Belgium, Holland, Roumania and
aervis, and probably Spain.
For tho solid vote Of tho centreists in
She reichstaR. which enabled the govern
Went to pass the commercial treaties. that
party is about to obtain Il long desired con-
cession granting the clergy greater control
Of instruction in primary schools. Count
will submit to the lnndtaR project con-
ferring power on the clergy to examine
candidates for the membership on religious
questions. The Catholics regard the CON
cession as one which will enable the clergy
to control schools through teachers. The
project will cause bitter fight in the land
tag, as the conservatives hold that it will
pervert the character os the volkssohule.
The inhGenza has claimed another vic
tim among the diplomats in this city. Mar
quis dc Penafiel, Ambassador of Portugal
to Germany, died here to-day from that
disease. Advioes from st. Petersburg are
that the illness of the czarina is low fever,
partly due to worrying over the plot against
the czar, in which highest court and i'm
perial personages are suspected. Private
letters state that some Of these plots are
aimed at obtaining constitution by which
the mobiles and land holders will appoint
members of the assembly. yal6
Rumors are current that negotiations
are proceeding to obtain the adhesion of
Russia to the commercial convention, but
there is no foundation for thom.
Among the Now Year articles appearing
in the German press ia one in the National
Zeitung which specially comments upon
the growth of tho American union as de-
cisiye factor CT the century.
The Frankfort Gazette announces that
immense quantities of wheat and ryo have
been stored in Rhine fortresses. The
wheat, 1t says was chiefly imported.
The American legation here is busy with
the cases of American citizens of German
birth who have boen arrested in this coun-
try for desertion from the army. American
Minister Phelps finds the government
ready to acced to any reasonable demand
for tho release of returned deserters. even
when laws would permit of their retention,
but it would be batter if men liable to
prosecution on this charge should remain
in their adopted country