The age-herald., 1897-12-26
CHINA THE CENTER
 OF ALL ATTENTION The German Government Continues R0ti-
 cent in Regard to the Situation. POWERS STUI NEGOTIATING
POWERS STILL NEGOTIATING
Strong Pressure to FPuStrat0 Joint Action
 by France, Germany and Russia.
THE OCCUPATION OF PORT ARTHUR
Is Declared To Be Permanent by Diplomat Influenza in Severe Form Raging in
 Bern-How Christmas Was Passed.

Berlin, Dec. 25.-China has occupied pub lie opinion to the exclusion of everything, throughout the week. The government and the foreign office continue reticent even the occupation of Port Arthur having failed to elicit any official statements with tho exception of denial of utterances of the Cologne Gazette and other usually inspired newspapers. The reason for this exception al taciturnity lies in the simple fact that Germany herself does not know where she stands or how far the other powers will permit her to go. Germany, Russia and France are still negotiating. and while there is strong pressure to bring about another joint action of those powers fn the far east, equally potent influences are working to frustrate such plans. It depends largely upon the outcome of these nego- tiations as to what instructions Prince Henry of Prussia will find awaiting him when lie arrives at Hong Kong early in February. In the meanwhile, the mission of Prince Henry may be characterized as mainly a display of spread-eagleism. A prominent diplomatic interview with the correspondent here of the press said
 Occuoatian Psrmanent,
 "Russias occupation of Port Arthur is permanent. Thereby she secures much desired terminus for the Siberian railway, which will be extended from Vladivostock and Port Arthur, making Russia the undis- puted 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. Be- tween them is an immense territory, which may eventually be disputed between Great Britain Germany and Japan. A move- ment is now on foot between 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 upset 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 coming events. That is, if she knows how to play her cards and establish basis Of mutual interests, for which I hear there is considerable prospect"
 From missionary the correspondent here of the Associated Press learns that the bay of Kiao Chou is by no means so valuable as at first believed. Part of the harbor freezes during three months of win ter and ice breakers are required to keep it open. The Hinterland is barren and treeless and the nature of the ground ne- cessitates the erection of costly large for tifcations 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.
 HohenIohe Distressed.
 , Prince Hohenlohe, the imperial chancel- Tor is much distressed at the sudden death of his wife of Tuesday last. He spent the three previous days at her bedside without sleep, and his aged frame has been much enfeebled thereby His physicians are urgently advising him to retire from pub lie life, at any rate temporarily; but the emperor relies upon Prince Hohenlohe's patriotism to remain in office during the present critical times.
 The government will introduce at the re- converting of the Prussan diet, on Jan. Il, another anti-socialistic bill, but not so comprehensive as the one rejected last summer. 1t will merely apply to private lecturers and universities, who will be brought under government supervision.
 The imperial family passed Christmas at the new palace in the usual way. The two eldest princes arrived there on Tues day from Ploen. The Christmas trees and the distributing 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 per- sonaly from various Berlin stores. They included hundreds of presents for the ser- wants and court officials.
 The inf1uenzia in a severe form has been raging alarmingly in Berlin. There have been thousands of cases, especially in the wealthier districts, and the death rate is rapidly increasing.
 Conference on Sugar Counties.
 Negotiations are proceeding in Berlin be- tween Germany and Australia for an inter- national conference at Brussels on the sub ject of the abolition of the sugar export bounties. France has intimated her will ingness to join in the deliberations.
 The organ of the Agrarians, the Deutsche Zeitung fiercely attacks Baron Won Thiel- mann, the minister of commerce, for not declaring a tariff war with the United States.
 The Vossische Zeitung, however, thinks the present moment is not propitious for a demand, pointing out that France and Great Britain alone would profit by tariff war of that kind.
 To the intense amazement of the suffer- CTS from the floods, the Saxony govern ment has presented a claim for payment to all villages and individual owners of property who were aided during the floods by the military. The village of Plauen. near Dresden, for instance received bill for 408 marks.
 MT. Clifton R. Breckinridge, the former United States minister at St. Petersburg, arrived here on Thursday to spend the holi- days with his family at Dresden.
 There was no joint celebration of Christ