The herald., 1898-01-02
Is Largely Manufactured
to Order
FIvE-SIxTHS OF 1T IS FALSE
THE REMAINING FRACTION IS
GUESSWoRK
Only One Thing Is Certain, England
Will Act Vigorously at the
Proper Time
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Jan. 1.-(Copyright 189S)
The ingenuity displayed in manufacture
ing news from the far east Is remark
able. Five-sixths Of the statements
can be safely labeled guesswork. The
British and Russian foreign offices are
as dumb as oysters, and the German
stream of conflicting communications in
the semi official press shows they do not
know which foot they are standing on.
France is apparently in the dark, while
the mikado has dissolved the Japanese
diet in order that opinions should not be
expressed. Under the circumstances 1t
Is not strange that accurate information
is difficult to secure.
The known facts wholly corroborate
the statements cabled to the Associated
Press on Saturday last, that Great Brit
ain is carefully watching the situation,
biding her time, and will not fail to act
promptly and vigorously at the proper
moment. 1t was pointed out in that
0lSpdlCI tllctl III we'll lIlOIIIlcu ClICltS Jll6
scare in the newspapers in regard to the
east was at least premature and that the
| members Of the government were evil
IDENTIFY sincere in disclaiming the least
alarm. This view Of the case was prac-
tically reiterated by the Daily Graphic
| on Friday, which asserted that there was
every reason to believe the Russians
| would adhere to their pledge to evacuate
Port Arthur at the end Of the winter and
that, therefore, there were no grounds
| for complaint on the part Of Great Brit
| ain. The Daily Graphic further pointed
out that the British government did not
regard the occupation Of Kiao Chau by
the Germans as calling for. action, be-
cause British interests were not threat
ened. Both the foreign Office and the
admiralty, according to the Daily
Graphic, were agreed on this point.
Evidently, apart from the question OF
the Chinese loan, the Korean question is
| more interesting for Great Britain at
the present moment than affairs at Port
Arthur and Kiao Chau, principally be-
| cause the Marquis of Salisbury sees in
| the attempt to GUST j. McLeavy Brown,
| the British superintendent of Korean
customs, a more serious scheme to over
turn Sir Robert Hart, the British d.
| rector Of the Chinese imperial maritime
customs. which has apparently been
nipped in the bud. The cabinets exist
ence would be short If it permitted Rus
sia to coerce the Tsung II yamen (Chi-
nese foreign office) into dismissing the
British head of the Chinese customs.
1t is not known yet whether the British
government will approve of the arrange
ments arrived at, according to a cable
dispatch from Pekin, by which Nc
Leavy Brown and M. Alexieff, the Rus
sian agent in Korea, will work the Kor-
can customs together The British min-
lister appears to be somewhat distrust-
full, so the warships of Great Britain
which are at present at Chemulpo, the
port of Seoul, in order to give moral
support to Mr.. Brown, will remain there
for the present. .
A diplomat, talking over the alleged
desire of Germany to arrive at an un-
derstanding with Great Britain on the
far eastern question, explains that the
change might be due to Germany's dis
satisfaction with her allies. Her faith
in the italian army has been shaken by
the defeats in Erythrea, and the COLI
lapse of the constitutional government of
Austria has made the efficiency of that
empire in case of war doubtful
The admiralty today issued an official
denial of the reports that three of the
Empress steamers have been requisi-
toned by the admiralty and also off,
cially denied the statement that the ma
val reserve of the China station has been
called out.
POLITICS AND FINANCE n.
Dr. Jameson, the Transvaal raider, in
an interview predicts that Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes will be premier of Cape Colony
in 1898.
The Paris police during the course OF
the week, secured another Of the Or
ganized gangs of murderers and robbers
who have terroriZed the suburbs Of the
French capital for months past. The
new arrests number thirty-eight and
the oldest prisoner is only 21 years old.
Within three months the bodies Of fifty
three murdered persons have been found
in small section of the river Seine.
and it is believed most Of these murders
are traceable to this gang.
There is some reason to believe that
France and Great Britain have about
reached an agreement on the subject Of
west AITlcd ny WuiCi tue LdSOS I1iuteI-
land will be determined by prolonging 1t
northward to the Niger, the present La
gos-Dahomey frontier France would
thus secure about 100 kilometers on the
right bank Of the river and Great Britain
would have Boussa and Nikka restored
to her and be confirmed in the possession
of other claimed points.
The financial barometer does not show
any trepidation, consols even improving,
There is not the slightest sign Of the
selling which always marks real clouds
on the political horizon and there ere.
signs of reaction in the long CONTINUED.
depreciation in land. Farms are selling
and renting more freely and at higher
prices. The improvement is attributed
partly to the rise In the price Of Hnf4&
land partly to the cheapness Of moA<Vs