The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-12
RUMORED THAT ITALY HAS AP-
Piled TO GREAT BRITAIN
FOR ASSISTANCE.
AMERICAN LADIES WILL ATTEND.
The First Drawing Room of the Season.
A Meeting of Gold Standard Men
Called to Oppose an Interna-
tional Conference.


Britain, and, it is thought, will lead to a
fresh advance by the dervishes into upper
Egypt. General Baratieri's defeat. it is
generally admitted, must have an enor-
nous moral effect in Africa and diminish
considerably the prestige of European
troops of all Nations. The defeat, more
over, seriously affects Italy's position in
Europe, politically and financially. AS
to its bearing on the dreibund, a number
of contradictory reports are in circulation.
On the one side, Russia, France and
Germany are reported to have come to
some sort of agreement upon their course
in the future. On the other hand, it is
said today that Austria is alarmed and
is urging Germany to cement better
understanding with Great Britain. The
latter supposition is likely to be correct,
but the accomplishment of Austria's plan
looks difficult as things now stand. If it
is true that Russia and France have
been secretly assisting King Menelil!
against Italy, it would seem but natural
that Emperor William, who has been
leaving no stone unturned to bring about
more cordial relations between Germany
and Russia. should side with the latter
power and France in joint endeavor to
crush Italy's colonial aspiration in Africa
and by so doing strike blow at Ger
many's leading colonial rival, Great Brit
ain.
According to leading provincial news
paper, Italy has applied to Great Britain
for assistance, chiefly financial, and re-
port has it that a large Italian loan will
soon be fioated in London. In addition,
important communications are said to
have passed between the two govern
ments relative to the possible movement
of Egyptian troops about the Upper
Nile. Military men here express much
sympathy for Italy in her troubles and
several former British army officers have
already offered their services to the
Italian government for duty in Africa.
A number of American ladies will be
present at the first drawing room of the
season, which will be held at Buckingham
Palace on Wednesday next by the
Princess of Wales, representing the
queen. They will include Mrs. Geo. N.
Curzon. the Duchess of Marlborough,
Lady Bennett, Mrs. Henry White, Mrs.
Richie of California, Mrs. Curtis, Mrs.
Clara Curtis of Boston and others, who
will be presented in the general circle
The Ashanti spoils have arrived at the
colonial office and are very disappointing
The whole lot is said to be not worth
more than $4,000. A number of the arti-
cles are hollow gold instead of solid gold,
like those captured on the previous Brit
ish expedition to Ashanti. The infer
ence is that the supply of Ashanti gold
has greatly diminished recently. The
three chief objects are King Premper's
crown, made of animal skin, each side
being lined with pure soft gold represent
whole surmounted by two golden goats
horns the executions grupSOmp
The army estimates, published yester-
day, show expenditures amounting to
t20,94O, IT'S, an increase of 100000 over
1895. The secretary of war, the Mar
Quis of landsdOwn, in presenting the esti-
mates, stated that recent events in East
Africa makes reduction of the British
garrison in Egypt improbable. He added
that special efforts were being made to
provide the artillery with the new con-
verified guns and that the recruiting for
1898 was satisfactory, with assertions
numbering the fewest on record. The
attention of the first lord of the treasury,
Mr.. A. ]. Balfour, will be called next
week by Mr.. II. j. BOwles, member of
parliament for Kings Lynn, Conserva-
tive, to the statements in the Spanish
press that in event of war between Spain
and the United States British privateers
will prey upon American commerce.
Mr.. Bowles will ask whether, in view
of the complications and injuries which
British trade would suffer in such an
event or in the case of war between
Great Britain and country which had
not acceded to the declaration of Paris,
the government would consider the
whole effect of the declaration OF Paris
binding and the ACCESSIBILITY of Great
Britain Withdrawing thercfrom
The young Radicals have broken out
into revolt against the policy of the old
er leaders of their party. The dual lead
ership between Lord Rosebery and Sir
William Harcourt is the source of dis
pute.
Mr.. Henry Labouchere and others
have long protested against traditional
chat is the term now generally appned
tive majority leader being in the house
of lords.
A majority of the Liberals, although
dissatisfied with the leadership of Lord
Rosebery, believe that Sir William Har-
court will not remain long in parliament
and therefore they are disposed to choose
as leader either Mr.. John Morley or
Mr.. Henry Asquith. The Radicals,
however, are also dissatisfied with the
machinery of the party, especially with
the power of the whips, who. they urge,
committee. The Radical committee has
held a meeting in the house of COM
mons and has adopted a resolution en-
bodying the grievances. 1t has been
sent to Sir William Harcourt. There
is a prospect of a cleavage in the party
unless the leaders are conciiatory.
There will be meeting of the gold
standard members of parliament next
week to consider the necessary meas
ures to be adopted in order to oppose
the motion to establish an international
bimetallic currency, which is to be de-
bated on March II. 1t is understood
that Sir Michael Beach-Hicks has an
nounced his intention of opposing the
motion and the leading gold standard
members intend to call upon Sir Michael
before the day of the debate to induce
him to change his mind.
According to the Daily News, the at
titude of the pope towards the Anglican
orders will possibly be marked by a
change in few weeks.
Cardinal Vaughan and Canon Noyes
have produced trenchant report deal
ing historically with the whole problem
and its convicts under these orders.
The English press is awed at the So
called German plan to secure the terri
tory of Lourenzo Marques. 1t appears
that when Portugal put her foot down
on hearing of the proposed transfer of
property on Delagoa bay from Ger
man firm to the German government, the
lat hot