The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26

Berlin. Dec. 25.-(Copyright 1897 by
the Associated Press. )-China has oc-
cupied public attention TO the exclu-
sion of everything throughout the
week. The government and the Off
GERS continue reticent, even the occu-
patton OF Port Arthur having failed
to elicit any official statements, with The
exception of q denial of the extraNs.-
giant utterances CT the Cologne Gazette
and other usually inspired papers The
reason for this exceptional taciturnty
lies n the simple fact that Germany
herself does not Know where she stands
or how far the other powers viii per-
nit her TO go.
INFLUENCES AT WORK.
Germany. Russia and France are still
negotiating, and While there is strong
pressure to bring about joint action
between these powers in the far east,
equally potent influences are working
to Illustrate such plans. It depends
largely upon the outcome OF these ne
gotiationS as to what instructions
Prince Henry OF Prussia will find
awaiting him when he arrives at Hong
Kong early in February.
In the meanwhile the mission Of
Prince Henry may be characterized as
mainly a display of spreadeagleism. A
prominent diplomat, in an interview
with the correspondent here of the
Associated Press said:
RAILROAD TERMINUS.
''Russia's occupation of Port Arthur
is permanent. She thereby secured a
much desired terminus for the Siberian
railroad. which will be extended from
Vladivostock to Port Arthur making
Russia the undisputed mistress of
Manchuria and the whole of North
China Her interests in China in no
way collide with those of France,
whose sphere of action is in South
China, between this immense territory
which may eventually be disputed be-
tween Great Britain, Germany and ia
pan. A movement is now on foot be-
tween Japan and Germany to arrive at
an understanding, as Japan sees clearly
that this course is the wisest. Russia
Will not tolerate Japan in Corea, as it
would destroy all the schemes she has
been preparing for the past two years
therefore, Germany is the only friend
and ally Japan can look for in the COM
ing events. That is, if she knows how
to play her cards and establishes a ba-
SIS OF mutual interests, for which 1
NOT so VALUABLE.
From a missionary, the correspond
ent here Of the Associated Press learns
that the bay of Kioa-Chau is by no
means so valuable as at first believed
Part of the harber freezes during three
months Of winter and ice breakers are
required to keep it open. The Hinter-
land is barren and treeless and the
nature OF the ground necessitates the
erection Of costly large Notifications in
order to hold the bay and adjoining
territory against attacks. If Germany
concludes to retain it, she Will have to
spend large sums Of money
Prince Hohenlohe IS much distressed
at the sudden death of his wife on
tuesday last. He spent the previous
three days at her bedside without
sleep, and his octogenarian frame has
been greatly enfeebled thereby. His
physicians are urgently advising him
to retire from public life, at any rate
temporarily but the emperor relies
upon Prince Hohenlohe's patriotism to
remain in office in the present critical
time.
The remains of the princess will be
inferred on Sunday The body was
consecrated on Friday in the presence
OF the ministers, military dignitaries.
ETC., by the prince bishop of Breslau.
DR.. Copp, in the conservatory of the
chancellor's palace. The emperor and
the empress of Germany sent floral
wreaths.
DECREASE IN REVENUE.
At the reconvening of the reichstag
the members of the opposition Intend
to make much Of the fact, that, accord
ing rc official figures, just obtained, the
imperial treasury receipts for the cur
rent year show a decrease of 20, 600 600
marks. They viii point out that in
view of the naval increase and the re-
organization Of the field artillery, the
large additional funds needed can only
be raised by new. taxes, contrary to
the promises Of the government.
The government will introduce at the
recenvening of the Prussian diet, on
Jan. II, another anti-socialistic bill. but
not so comprehensive as the one intro
dueed last summer. 1t viii merely an
ply to the lectures and universities.
who Viii be brought under government
supervision.
ROYALTYS CHRIST S.
The imperial family passed Christmas
at the new palace in the usual way. The
two eldest princes arrived there on
Tuesday from Ploen. The Christmas
trees and the distribution of gifts were
more lavish than ever. This part of the
celebration took place in the shell hall.
Most Of the gifts were purchased by
the empress personally at various Ber-
lin stores. They included hundreds of
presents for the servants and court Off
Gals.
AT q. secret session of the municipal
council, on Tuesday, a New Years ad-
dress to the emperor was adopted, for
the first time in many years. This adj
dress deals largely with national poll
tics, and is couched in patriotic terms.
Voluntary collections for naval pur-
poses are taking place among the pu-
pills OF many Of the public schools.
Influenza in a severe form has been
spreading alarmingly in Berlin. There
have been thousands of cases. and the
death rate is rapidly increasing
SUGAR BoUNTIES.
Negotiations are proceeding in Ber-
lin between Germany and Austria.
with q view to holding an international
conference at Brussels on the subject of
the abolition of the sugar export boun-
ties. France has intimated her willing
ness to join in the deliberations.
The organ of the agrarians, the
Deutche Tagas Zeitung, fiercely at
tacks Baron Thielmann for not declar-
ing tariff war on the United States.
The Vossiche Zeitung, however. !
thinks that the present moment is not