The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-13
AFFAIRS IN THE EAST.
Deceased Wife's Sister Gets Her
Bill.
ENGLAND AND ITS RELATIONS
WITH KINGDOM OF ITALY.

Like ly to Be Brought Closer to the
Driebund-Irish Land Bill VIII Go
Into Committee This Week.
London, July 1.-THE proceedings of
the Democratic National convention in
Chicago have excited much interest in
political and financial circles here. The
consensus Of opinion among the leading
high class weekly papers, suoh as the
Speaker, Spectator, and Economist. is
that the victory of the silver men is a So
rious danger to the Union. They declare
that though the Democratic party will
be wrecked sound money is sure of an
ultimate triumph. There will be long
period Of unrest. The immediate effect of
the strength shown by the silver men
will be heavy gold shipments from the
United States for some months and the
paralysis OF trade. many investors with
drawing their capital under the fear, how
ever improbable, that the Democrats
might win.
| The Speaker emphatioally says it does
not believe in the possibility of second
secession by confederation of the silver
Il
is meanwhile out OF gear. bye and bye it
will get new and better creed.
The deceased wife's sister bill, which
passed its third reading in the House of
Lords last night, is a great defeat for the
bishops and other members of the CIerf-
cal clique, who have for years succeeded
in preyentingsthesb ills froma becoming law
and q corresponding victory for the royal
family, who have been stanoh support
ers of the measure. The bill has now to
go to the House of Commons, and if it is
not too late in the session for its consid-
GRAFTON, it will certainly become law, and
the anomaly of what is strictly legal in
the British colonies being illegal in the
United Kingdom will be done away with.
The decisive majority for the bill, 81
votes, shows that a great change has
come over the House of Lords, which
heretofore has thrown the bill out with
scant courtesy. The bishops were out In
full force last night to throw their inf1u-
ence against the measure, and their
efforts were ably, but unavailingly. Sec
onded by the Dukes OF Argyll, Norfolk
and Rutland, Viscount Halifax and the
other peers who form the Clerical clique.
Lord Salisbury has arranged to leave
London early in August for the Riviera.
Parliament will not have adjourned be-
fore the Premier starts, but reasons of
health and of.state also expedite his de-
parture. Special Importance is attached
at the foreign office to his soiourn in the
| Reyiera. Recent communications from
the Italian minister of foreign AFFAIRS
tbs Duke of Sermoneta, expressed the
desire to have personal conference with
Lord Salisbury, with the view, it is under
stood, to discuss the Anglo-Italian rela-
tions In all their bearings.
Lord Salisbury has received AN import
ant statement from the Duke Of Sermon
eta. sot6inR forth the policy of the Italian
government concerning the retention of
Kacsala, the understanding with Engla nd
for naval corporation in maintaining
the balance of power in the Meditelra-
mean, the French occupation of Tunis,
and the encroaohments Of France upon
, Tripoli.
The Italian government deemed O con-
ference with the English Premier SO ur-
gent as to lead to an offer of the Duke of
Sermoneta to come to London IL Lord
Salisbury found it advisable. The pru-
dsnce of such step was apparently ques-
toned at the foreign Office. SO the meet
Tag has been settled to take place at q
time when the interviews will have less
an aspect Of formality. Nothing less
than wider and closer understanding
between England and Italy, specially
OlI5CtSQ nSdluSU DrhECS, Is au
in English official circles from the CON.
ference.
The result will bring England. it is
expected, into closer relations with the
Dreibund, and lead TO some startling de-
yelopments OF German policy in Eastern
Africa. In the recent debate In the Isal-
ian Cham Der of Deputies, she Marquis di
Rudini. the prime minister, spoke of
the understanding with England as the
complement to the conclusion of Italy's
pact with Germany and Austria.
Neither Prime Minister Rudini nor
Lord Salisbury is likely to disclose the
exact nature of the negotiations now
proceeding, hut it may be accurately sur
missed that on the English siGe they aim
at obtaining the support Of the Triple Al
lance in resisting the Russo French de-
inands for condon1inium in Egypt, ami
on the Italian side in getting England
pledged to oppose France in further ter
riGorial extensions Ia northern Africa
Ii all goes we'll with the expedition
} against Khartoum, which will start in
full force in September, the Italian ocou-
patton OF Kassala will tel inmate on jan
uary l, 1897. The Aaglo-Indian contin-
gent, which is still at Suakim, will be
J partly transferred to Tokar and Turiki-
tat, and will operate toward Kassaln sim
ult9ne0usly with the advance of the ex-
petition up the Nile from DongoIa. The
Mic FORCES are supposed TO be SUFFICIENT.
when reinforced by English troops, to
carry Berber and Khartoum
p The appointment of Sir Redvers Bul.
lers 20 the chief command is now rather
doubtful. 1t was settled, as announced
some time ago, that be should leave Eng
land for Egypt about the middle of the
current month.
This success with which Gen. Kitchener
hagicondueted the operations hitherto has
led to q movement In the war Office in
favor Of giving him the command of the
larger expedition. Gen. Kitchener,
though sardar of the Egyptian army, is
only colonel ia the British army. He is
self-nsgertive and ambitious, and has q
powerful friend IN Lord Wolseleysand an
other in lord Cromer. But to advance
suddenly to the high rank that would
pertain to the command of strong Brit
ish force, would challenge criticism. So
his friends at the war Office hesitate to
back him up with the government.
The Irish land bill has been fixed to 90
into the committee stage on JuIy Ia