The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-11
Came Add I Later at Chamber Of
Commerce Di0aef
DID CUE CUME FROM SALISBURY :?
Some Believe IT, the Premier Cave
the Ambassedor an 0fie4al Tip
to Give France Gan-
die Warning

London. December 1O.--I1lfe were two
prominent figures in the pol tical arena this
week. the secretary of state for the col
onies Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, and the
British ambassador at Paris, Sir Edmund
J. Monson. The address of the latter to
the British chamber of commerce at Paris
came Ike peal of thunder, causing dis
may on both sides of the channel, where
many people had affected to discern faint
outline of a peaceful rainbow between
France that Great Britain is fully deter
passage of the Fashoda storm. The first
impression was that Sir Edmund Monsoon
had received cue from the Marquis of
Salisbury to give candid warming to
France that Great Britain is fully deter
mined not to stand any further pin prick
nonsense. This impression still prevails,
although 1t has been somewhat modified by
the explanation which the ambassador sent
to the French press and it is now thought
Monson got an official tip to give France
a warning and that he spoke more openly
than was intended. The address. however
has served as a reminder to the people of
both countries that the fire of the Soudan
imbroglio is still smouldering and may burst
into flame before it is finally disposed of.
French Government Sulking
The ambassadors warning, according to
those qualified to know, was prompted by
the fact that the French government, sulk-
ing over the Marchand affair." is evadng
diplomatic discussion of pending Anglo
French problems and was intended to inti-
mate that with the change of French am
7 no
Courcel being succeeded by M. Paul Cam
bon, the Marquis of Salisbury desired a
more active treatment of the points in dis
pute.
Mr.. Chamberlain's speech on Thursday
embracing the whole range of domestic and
foreign politics, aroused as much interest
abroad as at home. He forocasted the min
isterial domestic legislation of the coming
session and then held out the olive branch
to every foreign country except France to
which he administered a salutary caution
which has been but little relished there e-and
which evoked all sorts of newspaper threats
to thwart Great Britain's project. d.
Mr.. Chamberlain spoke lukewarmly on
the subject of old age pensions, once his pet
scheme, but he promised five measures to
assist the working class to acquire their
own dwellings, promote secondary educa-
ton and to secure the safety and health
of workers in dangerous trades.
Mr.. Chamberlain declaration that an
agreement with Russia on Chinese affairs
is desirable, has made a deep impression
in view of his former utterance, in which,
referring to Russias evasion of agree
ments, he said: HE who sups with the
devil must have a long spoon
The Gar Took Umbrage
This remark gave great umbrage to the
car and IT. was then thought that it boded
i'll for future understanding.
The friendly references of Mr.. Chamber
lain to Germany suggest that help in mat
ters of common interest have met with
favorable reception in Germany. The press
comments show veiled joy at the prospect
of an Anglo German entente, but the Ger
man papers refrain from effusive dis
play of gladness, evidently with the view
of securing the best part of the bargain
Sir William Vernon Harcourts position
in the nominal leadership of the liberal
party is insecure because 1t has not been
established by the voice of the party and
ii received rude shaking when Lord Rose
berry emerg ng from temporary retirement,
delivered that bold Fashoda declaration
which resolved Itself into a bid for the
leadership. The unionists are rubbing their
hands with undisguised glee at the pros
pect Of a fight between the Harcourtites
and the Roseberyites which may split the
liberal party.
President McKinley's message to congress
and Secretary Cages report are both
warmly discussed in the weeklies.