The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-02
AN EXCITING POLITICAL WEEK
IN LONDON HAS BEEN THE
PAST WEEK.
THE RESIGNATION OF N. BERTHELOT
The French Foreign Affairs Minister,
is the Latest ensation-Situation in
the Transvaal is Again of
Disquieting Character.

1896, by the Associated Press -Polit-
ically, the past week has been a most
exciting one. Egypt, the Matabeles, the
speech of Joseph Chamberlain, the
Transvaal and Madagascar, all afforded
topics 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 inn
portance is attached to the resignation
of NJ Berthelot and it is interpreted 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 Dongola expedition and the result
which has been decided rebuff to
France, led to such an Ouucry in the
French press against the Bourgeois cab
met that somebody had to be sacrificed
in order to appease the public, and SO
NJ Berthelot, always looked upon as
somewhat of Jonah, was thrown over
board.
The Marquis of Salisbury undoubt-
eddy scored over France in the matter,
considerably tempered by the knowledge
that Germany's attitude is solely intiu-
enced by Italy's predicament and that
there is no love for England in her sup
port of this country.
In fact, the consensus of opinion of the
foreign correspondents is that unless a
change of relations occurs, Germany is
likely to leave Great Britain in the lurch
at later stage of the expedition and es-
oil
Italy is compelled by public opinion to
retire from Africa. The accounts given
of the campaign by the wounded soldiers
who have returned to Italy have in
creased the unpopularity of the African
schemes of certain of Italy's statesmen
and there are evidences of a revival of
the agitation against prosecuting the
war.
In regard to the situation of the
Transvaal, the Cape Town dispatches to
the Times are most disturbing and it
is evident that something is going on
which may lead to an explosion of more
far-reaching consequences than the JAM
eson affair. Everything points to the
fact. that the Transvaal is preparing
for some struggle and there is feeling
here that a rupture of amicable relations
with the South African republic is loom
ing up on the horizon most clearly. 1t
not be induced to visit England. The
Beers are arming and are listening en-
tirely too much to the advice of Ger
mans to be pleasant to the statesmen
here; and, in short, the South African
situation is the cause of extreme anXi-
ETY. to the financiers and others inter-
ested in that part of the world There
are indications that the Beers of the
Transvaal the Orange Free State and
no1 10, ryr
against Great Britain, with the result
that England may find that she has
more on her hands than the Transvaal
difficulty and that her enemies in South
Africa will be backed by Germany. I'm
der these circumstances it is not strange
that there is suspicion that the Matabele
rising, which turns out to have been in
stigated by the native police, is indi-
rectly or directly the work of the enc
mics of Great Britain and of course the
Dutch and German agents come in for
blame, whether justly or unjustly. The
rebellion of the Matabeles was quite I'M
expected and has caused a decided SEN
sation. The number of natives affected
is estimated at between 5000 and 5000;
but it is admitted that the disturbance
may spread to much larger number
and that the situation, which is already
one of gravity, may call for the despatch
of regular troops to the Cape from India
and Great Britain. Here it is that the
premier of Cape Colony, says he comes
in for n share of the suspicion which
seems at present to attach to almost ev-
erything and everybody connected with
South African affairs.
When Mr.. Rhodes left England re-
Gently for his home, it was significantly
remarked that no great time would
elapse before he would be heard from
in another role. The dream of Mr..
Rhodes, which is said to be the estab-
lishment of grand South African re-
public under the protection" of Great
Britain, has frequently been referred to
and he is said to be animated by strong
desire to do something which will wipe
out the defeat of the British by the
Beers, even if it is necessary in so doing
to wipe out the Beers themselves.
Therefore, it is uncharitably remarked
that it is just possible that Mr.. Rhodes,
and not the German or Dutch agent,
is responsible for the recent uprising of
the Matabeles and that it is probable
this disturbance may be the excuse for
the sending of strong reinforcements 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 dlfhcult matter to nan
die, as it is estimated that there are
from 1000 to 5000 white men in that
country who are thorough campaigners
who could speedily put down the re-
bellion as it now exists, particularly rs
it is now generally believed that not the
whole of the Matabeles are in rebellion.
A great number of them migrated across
the Zambesi after the late war and it is
said that there is no danger that they
will return, even at the request of young
Lobengula, who has, it is reported,
placed himself at the head of the in
surgents. The treachery of the native
police of Matabeleland was, the govern
ment officials here say, no surprise. as
it had previously been limited that they
were excited by the defeat of the Jane
son raiders, whose expedition depleted
Rhodesia Of police and greatly facili-
tated that present rising.
DR.. Montague, the Canadian minister
of agriculture, who is now in this city,
said to representative of the Associated
Press today that the Dominion govern
ment did not desire to coerce Manitoba
on the school question, and hoped, as now
appears likely, that a mutually satisfac-
tory settlement will shortly be reached.
The Dominion government, DIR. Mon
tague added, was much disappointed at
the bill of Mr.. Walter Long, the presi-
dent of the board of agriculture, for the
permanent exclusion of Canadian and 9th