Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-02

in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg, caused by fever contracted while on the Ashantee expedition, was a terrible shock to the queen. the health of her majesty continued excellent as usual
 Miss Clara Barton of the Red Cross so- ciety and her party, who are en route to Anatolia to distribute relief among the sufferers there, are remaining quietly at a West End hotel It has not yet been decided when the party will proceed to Constantinople.
 Whatever may be the exact nature of the Russian-Turkish entente, diplomatic developments show that Russia does not desire to challenge Great Britain or the other powers thereon. The negotiations between St. Petersburg and London point to Russia's intention to obtain the assent of Great Britain to proposed twenty years occupation by the former of six vilayets in Anatolia. Under the Cyprus convention Great Britain is pledged to intervene with force to pre- vent Russian occupation Of Asia Ml- nor Russia now proposes a revision of this convention. It is understood she is willing to assent to Great Britain's per manently acquiring the accession of Cy- prus by purchase. Cyprus Is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and lies SIX ty miles from the coast of Asia Minor. It is administered by Great Britain un- der convention concluded between the former and the sultan in 1878. The porte is willing to sell the island, the purchase money enabling it to obtain funds that are much needed for the Turkish treas ury France will not oppose it's pur- chase by Great Britain. She supports Russian intervention in Anatolia, but as a part of a general she is separately bar gaining with England for the abolition of the Anglo-Tunisian treaty, by the terms of which Great Britain obtained in perpetuity the most favored nation treat ment Tunis, with the abrogation of the treaty, would become an absolutely French possession. On the other hand, Lord Salisbury aims to keep the Tunis question apart, with the supposed view to get in return for the abolition of the treaty the surrender of the French fish ing rights in New Foundland.
 No reliable information can be ob- tained as to what position the Darda- nelles question will take in the diplomat ic imbroglio. Among the significant as- poets of the situation are ltaly's sup port of Great Britain in the matter or >CIprus and -e Russian occupation or .,z,-,,. -1.a~. ~GermanK and Anatolia the exclusion or -w1 the Austria. the other two members -ot of triple alliance in discussing the arrahsalS, ments and the increasing prospeetsf | harmonized relations between Great Britain, France and Russia
 The recent declarations of the Duke of Devonshire and Lord James, chancei-
 
 liberal unionists must retain thelr po- sition as a separate party with view to a possible reunion with the liberals, has called out the latent hostility Of the conservatives. Both sections of the CO., lation feel that their league is only temporary one, that the bulk of the lib- erals, who are now rapidly throwing off the Gladstone tradition, will soon omit home rule from their programme, ana that consequently a reunion of the liber- al unionsts and the liberals is certain.
 The Duke of Devonshire. who leads the liberal unionists in the house of lords, although he will not send summonses for attendance at the reopening of par Iiament, will give a dinner to his ad- herents on the evening of the assent blaze of parliament. The conservatives wanted him to abandon the banquet ana to attend the dinner that will be given Lord Salisbury. but he emphatically re- fused.