Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
SIX DAYS OF EXCITEMENT
English officials and Public Have Plenty to
Keep Them Thinking.
DlsTRUST THE FRIENDSHIP OF GERMANY
Likely to Change should Italy lie
Compelled TO Abandon Africa
Engtnnd's Temporary Adj
vantage over France.

Copyright. 1895, by the Associated Press)
LONDON, March 2s.-Politically, the past
week has been a most exciting one in Eng
land, the Matabeles, the speech OF Joseph
Chamberlain, the Transvaal and Madagascar
all being OF frst-class Importance, and then
came the resignation Of the French min
lister for foreign affairs, NJ. Berthelot, Gaping
the news sheaf OF the week. In some quarters
considerable Importance Is attached to the
resignation of M. Berthelot, and 1t is in
terpreted as being one OF the outcomes of
Frances abortive action in attempting to
prevent the use of the Egyptian reserve
fund for the expenses of the Nile expedition.
1t had been previously rumored that the
French cabinet was divided regarding the
policy to be followed In regard to the Dom
COLA expedition, and the result, which has
been a decided rebuff to France, led to such
an cutlery in the French press against the
Bourgeois cabinet that somebody had to be
sacrificed In order to appease the public, and
so NJ. Berthelot, always looked upon as some
what OF a jonah, was thrown overheard.
The marquis of Salisbury undoubtedly
scored over France in the matter; but the
feeling Of satisfaction experienced must be
considerably tempered by the knowledge that
Germany's attitude Is solely influenced by
Italy's predicament and that there Is no love
for England in her support Of this country.
In fact, the consensus of opinion OF the for
eign correspondents 10 that unless a change o:
relations occurs, Germany is likely to leave
Great Britain in the lurch at a later stage
OF the expedition, especially If, as appears
not impossible, Italy is compelled by public
opinion to retire from Africa. The account
Of the campaign by the soldiers who have
returned to Italy has increased the unpop-
ularity of the African schemes of certain of
Italy's statesmen, and there are evidences
80 m raviya1 NJ tho agitation aPningt nrOSeCtt-
ing the war.
DISPATCHES MOST DISTURBING.
In regard to the situation in the Transvaai,
the Cape Town dispatches to the Times
are most disturbing, and 1t is evident that
something is going on which may lead to an
explosion of more far-reaching consequences
that the Jamecn affair. Everything points to
the fact that the Transvaal 10 preparing for
some st ugg' e, ami there is a feeling here that
a rupture of amicable relations with the
South African republic Is looming upon the
horizon most clearly. 1t is believed that
President Kruger cannot be induced to visit
England. The Beers are arming and are
listening entirely too much to the advice
Of German advisers, to be pleasant to the
statesman, and, in short, the South African
situation is the cause of extreme anxiety
to the fnanciers and others interested in
that part of the world. There are indica-
tions that the Beers Of the Transvaal, the
orange Free SIdlG anu 1dpS COlt'Iy arc
making common cause against Great Britain
with the result that England may find that
she has more on her hands than the Trans
vaal difficulty, and that her enemies in
South Africa will be backed by Germany.
Under these circumstances 1t is not
strange that there is a suspicion that the
Matabele uprising turns out to have been
instigated by the native police, and is in
directly or directly the work of the enc
niles of Great Britain, and. of course, the
Dutch and German agents come in for
blame, whether Justly or unjustly. The reb a.
lion OF the Matabeles was quite unexpected
and has caused a decided sensation. The
number of natives affected is estimated at
between 5000 and 5000, but 1t Is admitted
that the disturbance may spread to a very
much larger number and that the situation,
which is already one Of gravity, may call
for the dispatch OF regular troops to the
Cape from India and Great Britain.
PUT THE BLAME ON RHODES.
Here 1t is that the enemies of Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes, the former premier OF Cape Colony,
say he comes In for a share OF the suspi-
cion, which seems at present to attach to
almost everything and everybody connected
with South African affairs. When Mr..
Rhodes left England recently for his home
1t was significantly remarked that no great
time would elapse before he would be heard
from in another role. TIL dream of Mr..
Rhodes, which is said to be the establish
ment Of a grand South African republic
under the protection" Of Great Britain,
has frequently been referred to, and he is
said to be animated by a strong desire to do
something brilliant which will wipe out the
defeats of the British by the Beers, even
IL 1t is necessary in so doing to wipe out
the Beers themselves. Therefore 1t Is re-
marked that 1t is just possible that Mr..
Rhodes and not the German or Dutch agents
is responsible for the present uprising in
Matabeleland, and that 1t is quite prob
ahla that this disturba npn NAV ha tho nv
cuse for the sending OF strong reinforce
ments of British troops to South Africa.
The future alone will show If this view of
the case is correct.
OF itself the uprising of the Matabeles
should not be a difficult matter to handle,
as 1t is estimated that there are from 1000
to 5000 white men in that country who are
thoroughly tried campaigners and who could
speedily put down the rebellion as 1t now
exists, particularly as 1t is believed that
not the whole Of the Matabeles are in re-
bellion. A great number OF them migrated
across the Zambezi after the late war, and
1t is said that there is no danger that they
Will return. even at the request OF young
Lobengula, who, 1t is reported, placed him
self at the head of the insurgents.
The treachery of the native police of
Matabeleland was, the government officials
here say, no surprise. as 1t had been pre-
viously limited that they were excited by
the defeat of the Jameson raiders. whose
SAIChitiOh tliGAtu IhnOutSld vi UUllte III
greatly facilitated the present rising.
DOMINION NOT INCLINED TO COERCION.
DR.. Montague, the Canadian minister of
agriculture. who is now In the city. said to
a representative of the Associated press that
the Dominion government did not desire to
coerce Manitoba on the school question and
hoped, as now appears likely, that a mutu-
ally satisfactory settlement will shortly be
reached. The Dominion government, DR..
Montague added, was much disappointed at
the bill OF Mr.. Walter Long, the president OF
the Board Of Agriculture, for the permanent
OF Canadian and other cattle, es-
specially as 1t had been expecting that the
embargo on Canadian cattle would be en-
tirely removed, as, according to the Canadian
minister Of Agriculture, the Canadian cattle
are absolutely free from disease and the fact
can be established.
Continuing. Mr.. Montague said: 81 had a
long conversation on the subject during the
week with the secretary of state for the
colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlin. and | again
urged him, as | have repeatedly urged other
people here. to adopt my sugges-
tion Of sending a British commission to
Canada with instructions to make a thor
ough examination of the Canadian herds.
bear all the expense OF such a commission
and will do everything possible in order to
enable II 10 make its examination as thor
and complete es desired. But Mr..
Chamberlain refused.
I'm my opinion the effect of Mr.. Longs
bill will probably be to lnjure instead of
benefit the British farmers, as it will un-
doubtedly increase the trade in cattle which
Fa knIad af fhA nOFfg In tho meantime