Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12
NO LACK OF WORRIES
THE SALISBURY MINISTRY mas
MANY PROBLEMS TO SOLVE.
FRENCH ENTERPRISE IN AFRICA
Alleged EncroaS.ment on British
~sitory-FaiIure OF British Cam
pnfgn I'm Indin-Peary Lionised-
<- at Windsor-Lfberai Platform.

tccpyrfght, 1897, by the Associated Press,
LONDON, December 1i.-Foir Cabinet
councils In week are calculated 10
arouse comment, but Il must be admit.
ted that the Marquis of Salisbury and
his colleagues have a multiplicity of mat
ters more or less urgently calling for q
settlement. With France trying TO fitch
slices OF African territory which Great
Britain is in the habit OF calling her
own, and Germany loosenlng the "cinch"
Albion has always claimed to have I'm
China, while Great Britain herself is fry.
Ing to grab little more country at va
rious other points. and with the prepara-
ton for the executive programme. the
ministry has no lack Of worries.
The announcement which the st. James
Gazette made on Wednesday last, "au-
thoritatively" that the British Govern
ment does not expect any further trou
BILE with France regarding the J-pper
Nile regions. France agreeing to accent
the situation. is unconfrmed and proba-
oily unfounded, as there Is no lack Of owl
dence that France IL deliberately pur-
suing the task OF SELLING the upper
waters OF the Nile, above Khartoum. thus
cutting the British line OF communication
between Cape Town and suez. and the
powerful Colonial party In France threat
ems TO upset the Moline Cabinet, should
IL recede from this enterprise.
FAILURE IN INDIA.
All the forces Of General Sir William
Lockhart. the British commander on the
Indian frontier, have been withdrawn 70
The Bara Valley for the winter. Thus.
the largest and best-equipped force ever
assembled In India has failed, and the
whole work will have to be repeated I'm
the spring.
About l,iO officers and men killed or
wounded, $4,000 of rupees spent in loss
and British prestige weakened on the
frontier, are the debts against which n
low mud houses and sangors blown tlp.
and probably several thousand natives
Killed, are the only apparent credits.
: Rumors too precise u be guess work
are current to the effect that the Earl OF
Elgin, early next year, will retire from
the Vice-Royalty Of India, and be sue
n. whose
Indian secretaryshIp will be filed by Lord
Lansdowne. the present Secretary OF
State for War This would be a good
party move, as it would enable the Mar
quis OF Salisbury to place at the head
OF the War once q skilled man OF bust
ness, who would satisfy the taxpayers
as well as the army. and materially
smooth the path OF the intended proposals
for military reform.
II is intimated that Joseph Chamberlain
may be transferred from the Colonial TO
the War Office. his place being given as
sop to the Marquis OF Londonderry,
whose Kicking qualities are not appre-
ciated by the Ministry.
PEARY A HERO.
Lieutenant r.. Il. Peary. the American
explorer, has taken the town by storm,
though he arrived here unheralded. The
newspapers, geogrsphers, and scientists
are at his disposal AS n leading geo
grapher said to a representative Of the
Associated Press: Lieutenant Peary has
won all our hearts by his modesty, cour-
tesy, and learning. We put him on the
same plane as DR.. Nansen, and have the
utmost confidence in his plans"
On Friday afternoon Colonel Hay had
a long conference with the Marquis OF
Salisbury at the Foreign once. on the
subject or the Boring Sea. The interview
was amlcable on both sides, but nothing
definite was arrived at.
Later in the afternoon Colonel and Mrs.
Hay proceeded 10 Windsor, where they
received special marks OF attention. The
United States Ambassador and his wife
dined at the Queens table. Colonel Hay
sitting next to her Majesty. She was
most kind and cordial, the conversation
lasting an hour After dinner, the Queen
conversed with Mrs. Hay In the same
cordial manner.
NEW LIBERAL PLATFORM.
The National Liberal Federation at its
annual meeting at Derby on Tuesday last
constructed a now platform, which, II is
hoped, Will be broad enough to hold all
the factions. II includes abolition Of the
peers rights OF veto, woman suffrage,
the payment OF members of the House
of Commons. the Acknowledgement OF
paupers. and the defraying Of election ex-
penses from public funds.
John Morley has Kicked" at the plat
form. He says he has dotted his coat
and waistcoat in behalf OF home rule,
and cannot spare any more apparel for
the purpose Of fighting for the abolition