The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-19
She Has Just Annexed the Rich
Land Of Ashantee
AND TAKEN MORE OF SIAM.
France and England Have Now Near.
ly All the Malay Peninsula.
Beside Getting a Fleet Ready I'm Few
Days, England Has Settled Three
Quarrels With France-No Abate-
ment in the British War Prepara-
tions, However.
copyrighted by the Associated Press


erai opinion here among the English that
the events % the past week have N no
way impaired the prestige Of Great Brit
ain The agreement arrived at with
France regarding Siam is. for instance.
gravely looked upon in some quarters here
as being an excellent reply TO Emperor
Williams dispatch TO President krueger
on the result OF the Transvaal invasion.
IN spite or the utterances to the contrary
OF the French newspapers. La Liberte. OF
Paris, on Wednesday had an interview
with NJ Berthel0t. the French ministes Of
foreign affairs, in which he was quoted as
saying: The CNekong) convention does
not modify our external policy. The In
gisn newspapers are wiilfu.iy mistaken in
declaring that England has obtained
Frances cooperation in the settlement OF
English foreign difficulties" Yet. IN the
face OF this. the newspapers here look
upon the Mekong agreement as being a
triumph fer British diplomacy and a slap
at Emperor William.
on the other hand. II was credibly an
nouneed today that the Ashantee war had
been ended with the complete submission
OF King Prenpeh, and the news Is re-
ceaved with great satisfaction, as IL frees
Great BritaIn's hands from what once
promised 70 be a troublesome little war.
The elation over Great Britsins appar-
entity successful issue from delicate sit
ration. combined with the confidence
aroused by the promptness with which
the naval preparations We're carried out.
has given tone OF cocksuFeness TO a por-
ton or the Ersss and a majority of the
people. The Standard il 50 elated that il
talks about Great Britain's holding her
own against any FIVE or six OF tae great
powers, and thinks IL matter Of supreme
indifference as to how. the powers N.Y.
group themselves
The ST James Gazette however, strong
~ reproves Englishmen for uttering such
an opinion, describes the Standards re-
marks as swagger. and asks pertnently if
Great Britain is preoared to take on
france. Russia. Germany, Austria and the
United States, and says: Surely, this is
making great deal too much OF the fact
that We have built a few ironclads and
cruisers rapidly during the last few years"
Continuing, the ST. james Gazette pro-
eeeds TO enumerate the vulnerable points
OF Great Britain's armor. namely. Insult
hcient numbers OF cruises, a lack OF
trained sailors and officers to man the
feet. a tiny eruy etc
Discussing the chances Of the invasion OF
Great Britain. Capt. Lutwitz makes the
remark that an invasion of this country
would he dangerous, but it is in no way I'M
possible.
Although matters look decidedly more
peaceful than they did a week or so ago.
the production OF war material here APP
pears to have been increased rather than
diminished. The stan of workmen at the
dock yards and arsenals has been increased
largely. and Il is looked upon as being sig
niticant, and as having a direct bearing
upon the future, that the workmen have
been mostly promised permanent employ
ment The admiralty department tele-
graphed TO the iron works manufacturers
OF the Midlands yesterday 10 dispatch i'm
mediately further consignments of ship
iron work and other requisites for pusbing
the completion Of warships now in hand
The military authorities have enrolled 4
large number Of additional employees at
the government gun factories. and the men
are all working overtime Cartridges for
the new magazine rifles are being turned
out BY the million, and enormous quanti-
ties or shells are being manufactured The
factories are also turning out as rapidlv
as possible large numbers OF field and naval
guns and steps are being taken 10 push
this branch II the defenses very strongly.
The Importance of the agreement with
France regarding Siam, previously auud-
e. 20. is insisted upon. in view OF the fact
that Il : said 10 have settled a question
which might at any time have Led 10 serious
differences between Great Britain and
France. Moreover, it Is stated that two
other causes for d.ssersion have been re-
moved ay the same agreement. ore being
t1e result ~ removal of The British treaty
of commerce with Tuais and the other he-
ir- basel zn the arrangement of mixed
commission, which would proceed 20 fix
the boundary between the English ans
i'r' urh possessions TIA the Niger basin. TIE
settlement ~ the latter question no doubt
VIII In wu-h 60 remove the bad blood which
has existed for some time past between
Frante ana Great Britain as it viii disarm
tne chauv.ust French colonial politicians
v h1 used i- % shrek against Great britain
NWa. n d.
faeaee 20 the S.2mese part OF tho Malay
prr .rslla i5 .rg between Lower Burmah and
fra Straits Settlement Thus her Inlaa
c~nq'-e VII extend un.nterruuledlv from
EtI'oehistan q Singapore. Great Britain.
however. w with8r4ws frCm the region r1rth
90 the Mekone which VIII go 10 Franco
Its latter point IS the most diff rG,t for
che f,anlish g. swallow. as IL means the
thlrswal ~ q British post. The most in-
st~5etive feature 10 the arrangement Is the
manner in which sam IS treated or rather
v5.k - ty the agreement - -he Two powers
All that vsna rs 70 her Tow. ana ttis IS SEE
cured by the agreement. is the valley of
tha Meaam, witch however. Is the most
fiut:ui region of the c1gntry.
Recent statements have appeared in
tha london papers claiming faat che
foreign ofce was preparing e,ano-
rate mars au3 a lengthy report cn SD
phases of tee Venezuelan question. IN
regard 20 tbls statement q h.r1 official
AZ the fore5C ot7ce states 20 a reporter of
tha Associated Press. wye are not rrepar-
ing any new ar special mars. s3r Re are
sat.sae3 with those row IN 8sa TIE state
meas now largely c.-ecIate3 Is made og-
Of tne whole cloth WhsIe Lord Salisbury
has net vet authorize IS to announce the
tsct. we may SAY hf s. preparing fun
rrrs~t az the whole matter which VIII pa-
d1uere3lv Re submitted 20 parliament soon
after sts assembly or February q"
When sskea about the canle dispatches
vr.ee tire Ia3y Chronicle has tet0 rc h-
Isa.nE from washington Ctty. The foreign
.-ssI remarked 1--WE aye tv-t.rel %
th.rk the letters referred % are cooies of
certain documents relating 70 che matter
walsh were published .u Paris scwe years
er1 81 the fnsLE3tlom ~ t1e TeneEue-
l7- government As stated some f#u1e ago
u the Associates Press. t6ey 90 not cover
the entire ground, as tseE seem 20 b. oaIy
extracts takeu AZ random here ana -taer~.
While they are undoubtedly authentic. 20
.s- a. they 10 Ehey 42 not have the aa-
-hr-sscttv az bl-cE accepted av tae ts-lt-
ism government - leteFmlEate - ths mat
tr~
Tne Ua4.ea States arhasss3or. Nr
7-A7rneS r BayArs. was asked = ne had
a'v oaHciai tntorma-on tAat Lor3 SAILS
ls.F- vas pr1 pairing q special report % the
q .ses-ssu. TAe aM.Assa1or "a. g. II hAve
r1-hsn- oTseiaflv on the matter bar %
course have asa-a &c .rt.naVe1 that saca
-r5s rhe fact I an heartily glsf 70 Snow
% 3 - as g. H.I 4r1r2rtetiy te-4 20 *
re7.te csa gers 20 uat know w1ethe-
tne matter Paal-zEeG - tie GAron-els =