The herald., 1896-02-23
IN THE KA|SER'S REALMS
Hohenlohe Questions BaIfour's
Stand on Currency
A CONFERENCE NOT LIKELY
Herr Eek Says Prussia Does Not Con.
template Retaliation
Colonel Ludlow wInvestlgatIng Europesn, Canals
and Collecting Data Of Use In Nicar-
,augua Canal Construction


.augua Canal Construction
BERLIN, Feb. 22.-(Copyrighted, 1896,
by the Associated Press. )-The conflicting
statements made by the first lord of the
treasury, Mr.. A. j. Balfour, in the British
house of commons, and the imperial chan
cellor, Prince Hohenlohe, in the reichstag,
the former on February I'd, saying that it
was not true that Germany had approached
Great Britain with a view of conclusion
of monetary agreement. and the latter
announcing on February Sth, that he had
learned from preliminary negotiations with
the British government that the opening of
the Indian mints was not expected, have
caused great surprise in this city. 1t was
gathered from Mr.. Balfour's remarks that
the British government is not averse to
the opening of a scheme for monetary re-
form, while the construction placed on the
statement of Prince Hohenlohe was that
Great Britain had refused to take the mat
ter into consideration.
Count Won Kardoff, the German silver
the subject this afternoon, and pointed out
ance with that of Prince Hohenlohe.
The minister of foreign affairs, Baron
Marschal Won Bieberstein, replied that
Count Won Hatzfeldt, the German ambas-
sador at London. had been directed to in
form the government of Great Britain that
the imperial chancellor was about to an
nounce in the reichstag that it, regarded
the opening of the Indian mints as neces-
sary precedent to International negotia-
tions regarding bimetallism, and that it
understood that the reopening of the mints
was not anticipated within a measurable
period. The government of Great Britain
responded by acquiescing in this stale-
ment.
Count Won Kardoff complained that
Prince Hohenlohe had acted contrary to
the reichstag resolution of 1895 in making
this inquiry in London. But as Prince
Hohenlohe did not reply, the incident was
dropped.
The conflict in MIR. Balfour's statement
and the reply of the government is more
apparent than real. The government said
that it did not anticipate to open the mnts
as precedent to the international negotia-
tions. Mr.. Balfour merely stated that the
government consider the reopening of the
mints a condition precedent to any salts.
factory currency scheme.
The minister of the interior for Prussia,
Herr Eek, has asked the representative in
this city of the Associated Press if it is true
that the legislature of New York state is
taking steps to exclude Prussian insurance
companies, and if congress has also taken
the matter up. He said he failed to see
what just reason the United States had for
so doing, inasmuch as nothing more was
nothing more was asked OF the American
companies than of the Prussian. Further
more, the decree of December last ordered
a thorough re-examination of the whole
affair, and the result would be known in
due time.
This reply tallies with one given to Mr..
J. B. jackson, the United States charge
d'affaires, to the effect that Prussia does
not contemplate retaliation.
Col. Ludlow, the military attache of the
United States embassy at London, is now
examining the Baltic and North sea canal.
He has just returned from similar ex-
haustive examination of the Suez and Cor
inth canals. The colonel has collected a
wealth of data which will be useful in
building the proposed interoceanic canal
across Nicaragua. He finds that the Suez
canal is paying II per cent on q nominal
capital and that the Corinth canal. which
has not been wisely built, is paying its way.
After having completed his examination of
the North and Baltic sea canal. Col. Lud-
low will have special audience with Em-
peror William, who has taken a lively
interest in his mission. The Colonel will
then study the large canal of Holland, and
after returning to his post will draw up a
report which will be forwarded to WASH
ington in time for the present session.
The Radicals and Socialists seized upon
the debate on the military budget to make
fierce attacks upon the government on ac-
count of the alleged abuses in the army,
the maltreatment of Socialist recruits and
the powder monopoly ring, of which as
sociation tho Voerwaerts published long
history tending to show that the ministry
had confederates in the ring.
Herr Bebel made similar charges in the
reichstag, which the minister of war, Gen.
Bronsart Won Schellendorf, most emphat.
ically denied.
Herren Bebel and Leusemann declared
that the emperor was not right in severely
criticising the Socialist recruits without
reason, but the minister of war maintained
that it was the unqualified right of his
majesty to maintain discipline in the army
by any means he saw fit to employ.
1t is now estimated 10000 men and
women employed in the clothing and dress
goods industries of Berlin hive been out
on a strike. The men obtained all their
demands on Wednesday, including 10 per
cent increase in their wages, and negotia-
tions al pending between the work people
and the women's clothing department., with
the prospect of an early settlement.
The Socialists have declined to take part
in the reichstag peace jubilee on March
2l, owing to the fact that the participants
are to toast the emperor. The Centrists
threaten TO follow suit unless the toast to
Prince Bismarck is framed SO as not to be
offensive to them.
Professor Quidde, author of the famous
Caligula pamphlet, has been indicted by
the municipal authorities for Iese majeste.
The German colonial party is likely to
split on account of the discord which has
arisen among its members regarding the
gigantic navy projects fathered by DIR.
Peters, the president of the Berlin section.
The resignation of Prince Arenberg and
Herr Hoffman, the secretary of the organ-
cation, was due to this, and DR.. Peters an
nounced this as the cause yesterday even
ing, declaring that he had the support of
Prince Alhrecht OF Mecklenberg, president
of the whole society, and stating that O
regular Chauvinist branch of the society
was formed at Hamburg. The meeting
wss unanimous in demanding an increase
in the number of fast cruisers.
The birthday of Prince Bismarck, who
was born April /, 1915, will be again gem
orally celebrated throughout Germany this
year. Big commers will be held by the
Berlin Philharmonic society in honor of
the day.
Major Abel. director of the artillery |
works at Dantzic, committed suicide on
Wednesday last. Papers which were found |
after his death showed that he had been in |
communication with the French secret
military cabinet.
Two editors of the voerwaerts, Hsrren |