The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-24

accuracy OF the news received today
| from Constantinople and cabled 10 the
| Associated Press. The marquis of Sails
bury on Monday last summoned the am
| basSadors to the foreign Office and COM
| municated 10 them the views of the Brit
| iSh government on the definite proposals
| of Russia for joint Intervention, in order
| that each ambassador might commune
cate them to his government, and thus
enable the representatives OF the powers
at Constantainople 10 be properly in
| structed. There is reason TO believe that
| unless the sultan, within the next ten
days, shows a Difference Of which at
present ne is very little suspected, very
decisive steps will oe undertaken in the
| name OF the join. powers. In this con-
nection, the Novoe Vremya, OF St
Petersburg. says it is probable that
within few days the Russian Black sea
feet will appear in the Bosphorous,
where it will be joined by the squadrons
OF the other powers from the Darda-
nelles
RECEIVED BY THE POPE.
Rome, Dec. 23-The pope received in
solemn audience today the cardinals and
prelates, who rendered him the sessions
greetings. The reception took place in
the thorne room. His Holiness appeared
to be in excellent health and in a clear
against the position of the Holy See. He
asked what was the use of laws for the
safeguard and dignity of the pope when
even his charitable and disinterested
ideas of consoling the Italian prisoners
in Abyssisnia had been made public tar
get for outrage and calumny.
VACANT AMBASSADORSHI
Paris, Dec 23.-The Figaro today in
Inmates that, owing TO the difficulties be-
tween France and Great Britain in re-
gard to Egypt and Turkey, the post Of
Baron de Courcel as French ambassador
to the court of st. James, may be left
vacant for while.
PLAGUE AT BOMBAY.
Bombay, Dec. 23.-It is officially stated
that the plague is increasing here and
Karachi, the seaport OF Sindee, Is also
declared to be infected.
REFORMS IN MADAGASCAR.
Washington, Dec. 23.-Among the earl
lest reforms of the French government
in Madagascar is one embodied in de-
cree abolishing slavery, copy OF which
has reached the state department from
Consul Wetter, at Tamatave. 1t declares
all the inhabitants free, forbids trafflc
in human beings, multiplying every con-
tract providing for the sale OF persons,
and imposes penalties for violation or
the law which are to be tripled in case
of second offense. Other features OF the
decree are that France promises not TO
impose upon the people of Madagascar
any extraordinary war tax and offers
aid to dispossessed owners of slaves. in
the form of territorial possessions. M
other decree, relating to schools, pro-
hibits interference by teachers in political
affairs and urges instruction in the
French language.
BIG GERMAN SCHEME.
San Francisco, Dec. 23-German mer-
chants are contemplating a scheme OF
wonderful magnitude in japan, accord
ing to the Asahi. 1t is reported that
about twenty firms. including shipbuild-
ers railway and other big concerns, are
combining to form a syndicate in order
to get all the orders of the japanese gov
eminent which are to be given in conse-
ouence OF the military extension and oth-
er schemes projected subsequent to the
war with China, and to import every
thing required in Japan through their
own hands. The articles wanted, of
English, French or American origin,
they intend to supply themselves by
making special arrangements with Ger
man firms in various oDuntries. They
also intend to engage in the export trade
of Japan. Their representative is al
ready in Yokohama. and certain proml-
nent native merchants are said to be in
tcrested in the scheme. Should the
scheme be actually carried out. Great
Britain, America and France and other
countries will be driven out of the mar
kets, and 1t cannot fail to affect the COM
mercial world to a very great extent.