Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-18
IN BRITAIN's PARLIAMENT.
Italy and the Advance on DongoIa--
international BlmetaIIisn.

LONDON, March 17-In the House
OF Commons to-day Sir c. j. Pearson.
ord-Advocate of Scotland, replying to
question from Mr.. Henry seton-Karr,
Conservative, said that the State
aided crofter colonizing scheme In the
western part Of the Dominion Of Canada
had not been attended with much sue
cess up to the present time. The colo
nizing Board, he said, had 1900 still
unexpended. but the government was
not prepared to start any further schemes
Of the kind.
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary
OF State for the Colonies, replying to
Mr. Labouchere, said that the objec-
tions made to the continuance of the
chartered Sougth Africa Company ought
to be removed by the decision of the
government to take tho whole military
police into its own hands
Mr.. George n. Curzon, parliamentary
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that
the Italian Government has informed the
Government Of Great Britain that II
views with pleasure the advance Of the
British expedition upon Dongola, which
could not be otherwise than an ad-
vantage to the Italians at Kassala.
No pledges had been exchanged. he said,
in regard to mutual assistance.
Mr. Herbert Whteley moved a reso-
luton declaring that the House was Of
the opinion that the instability OF the
relative values of gold and silver since
the action OF the Latin Union In
1893 has proved Injurious 10 the best
interests of the country, and urging
the government TO do everything pos
sble to secure by international agree
ment a stable monetary par OF exchange
between gold and silver.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. reminded the House Of
the passage of n resolution at the last
session urging the government 10 co-ope-
rate with the other Powers IN a confe-
renee aiming to remove the evils arising
from the Quotations in gold and silver.
The present government dt1 not wish TO
recede from that resolution. The govern
ment was willing 10 enter Into negotia-
tions with the Powers for a conference,
but on the understanding that IL was not
prepared TO abandon the gold standard
in the United Kingdom. (Cries OF Hear"
"HearrD Some OF his colleagues-nota-
bly,. the First Lord Of the Treasury (Mr.
Balfour), were pronounced bimetallists,
but all agreed in thinking that they would
not be justified I'm departing from a gold
standard in the United Kingdom. The
prospects of an agreement between the
European nations in favor of bimetallism
was not great. There was no doubt, II
the Powers could agree regarding the use
OF silver, that the Indian Government
would reconsider the question Of re-
opening its mints. All the leading Eng
lish monetary experts held that the
wealth OF the country had been built up
on a gold standard, and that it's perma-
nence and prosperity were dependent
he exfcffn0 N Of
that opinion no responsible government
would propose TO change the present con-
ditions.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, formerly
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and now
Opposition leader In the House. said ha
welcomed the declarations of Sir Michael
Hicks Beach that the government did not
intend to depart from the established
monetary system.
The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, First
Lord of the Treasury, followed Sir Will
liam, and made a somewhat lengthy de-
fence of his known Views as a bimetal-
list
The resolution was then adopted, with
out a division being taken.
Mr.. Curzon read the telegram re-
ceived at the Foreign Office by Lord
Cromer, British diplomatic agent In
Egypt, upon which the government
based It's decision to advance upon Dom
COLA. The telegram included information
that Osman Digma was advancing into
the Suakim District: that merchants
who had made their escape from Berber
reported that the dervishes were prepar-
ing 10 attack Murad Wells, and that
a large force Of Mahdists had left Om-
durham for Dongola. The kilograms
also contained dispatch from the
British Consul at suakim. announcing
the renewal OF the activity Of the der
wishes under Osman Digma, and stating
that they were raldng Tokar. and had
reappeared at Snkai and the Mahdl
Italians, and forbidden them to engage
in traffic on the Berber coast.