New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
WHATLONDON TALKS ABOUT
London. January 3.

London. January 3.
THE EASTERN SITUATION.-The disclosure of
the details and terms Of the acquisition OF Mao
Chau Bay by Germany momentarily scared inc
British public. which, however. now regards Ger
many's move with all the more equanmity. as. IN
the opinion OF persons intimately acquainted with
China Kiao-Chau Bay Is Of little commercial value
and will only be source OF huge expense Tor the
German Jamesoners." II the harbor had peen
commercially valuable. II IS pointed out. 1t wouIo
long ago have been made treaty port; but IL IS
said TO be completely overshadowed by the close
proximity OF iourishng Chec-Foo. The province or
Shan-Tung. It s added is entirely agricultural ana
is hardly able to support It's population. whie inc
strategic value OF Kiao-Chau Bay can be inferred
by the fact OF Russia. IN spite OF the Casslni
Treaty allowing Germany to occupy IT, Alto
gether Kiao- Chau Bay is not likely to prove bed
of roses.
The British Government maintains a sphin1Ake
reserve regarding Chinese affairs. and there are
no further revelations of her intentions peyo'u
the statement made by THE Manchester Guar
dian on January . and cabled exclusively 10 the
Associated Press at the time. which was unques-
tionably the official view of the situation. con-
elusive Illustration Of the attitude OF the BRUSH
Government ia furnished by the presence OF ""i-
ships Of Great Britain at Chemupo and PORT Al
thur. and Il is likely TO be further demonstrated
by similar action at Kiac-Chau Bay. In wei-ih-
formed circles II is asserted that II is not hkeiy
Great Britain VIII formally protest against 'he
lease OF Kiao-Chau Bay 10 Germany, but VIII con-
fine herself to the significant hint given III INC
movements OF her neet-namely. that she ihlehds
TO claim an equal share of all Chnas concessions
in regard TO all seapors. LEASED or looted as
heIna additional treaty ports. a leading diplomat
remarked 10 "A representative OF the Assoe'a'eu
The statesmen OF Berlin and St, Petersburg
be strangely unobservant IL they ma, i9 nT
that either Great Britain. the heu o'a i'VS %
Japan will allow them the monopoly OF me piumS.
II is amusing TO notice Russia and france court W.
forming an offensive and defensive alliance WIN
Great Bri,ain As mS'i iSan OF h 'c EVENTUAL all
ance of Great Britain. China and Japan amh t,l Hle
sbouid Great Britain, as it now seems certain
guarantee Chinese loan. At the present mo mo
ment so far as Great Britain is concerned the
loan is the kernel of The whole question snan has
suggestive piece OF HewS 900 IS IONS ns' ach which
hqye been b1dSS IN, II E Snese fS oa II
vii Is pCt Silver as the money is required to pay
the Japanese war indemnity and would nor ne
sent to China. Therefore. silver couid ho' oe u''
The sleek Exchange here continues 10 be un-
disturbed Indeed It Is believed current events events
The Spectator revels IN the announcement tnat
the tinted states is inclined to support the Bfi
sh demand that no exclusive privileges be granted
to any individual Power In china ana ga say sgrres
sion would tempt any combination OF Conunenn,,ai,
Powers TO face the whole Anglo-saxon race united
and resolved
ACTIVITY IN AFRICA-Tho official statement
that the military tactics in Egypt are pufeiy oe
fensive is not credited. The greatest activity Is
manifested In all quarters. Immense supplies or
ammunition and food being forwarded 10 the
front and II is whispered in military circles that
this means the Ministers desire to meet Parliament
with Khartoum in their hands so that triumph
In Africa MAY offset the plumbers In India Even
with the veiiest effort however. the time inter-
vening will hardly suffice for coup In the Soudan
consists
thousand Egyptians. three battalions OF British
troops and the Nile gunboats all COMMANDED ny
the sirdaI sir Herbert Kitchener me Ia heo Te
the rahsad. ,., m,
serving in the Soudan. who says that since July
the Dervshes have killed over two thousand or the
Children who are homeless and starving number
five thousand souls They have DRAGGED themseIvg selves
to Berber. he continues where we nave scarcely
sufficient food for our own people" Continuing
III" IA Tharitv Committee OF the officers has been
formed and IS doing good work with the goo sub
scribed But the refugees are increasing IN num-
Der"
AMERICAN FINANCES.-"The Statist" expresses
the opinion that the fact that resolution has
been introduced In Congress TO pay the interest
on the United States debt either in gold or silver
indicates that there is little chance OF any reform
OF the currency by the present Congress I'm spite
OF Secretary Cages confidence" and regrets that
under the circumstances. It IL obliged to continue
cautoning Britishers against investing In America
until the currency question is settled The Statist
s says; ordinary circumstances We should like
much OF our savings invested in the United States,
where majority OF the citizens are OF our kin. and
whom we desire see prosperous.
IN the i fia slatHs would variant large invest
mens. hut for the silver nightmare which is ever
THE PRESENT prices are so tempting that it is
much to be regretted there is no definite pros
pect that Congress will take effective steps to aay
the fears
BRITISH COMMERCE.-Ths foreign trade o,
Great Britain during 1897 was the largest in his
tory The total exports imports and re-exports
amounted to f7a5 900 LIKELIHOOD The Increase
was entirely irSmports and re-exports. the decline
in exports amounting to f5.7s5oo0 (s2s. $4,000. The
growth Of the imports II most ehdhey que 10 the
amounting Hl4 1900 900 100000. The greatest
quantity OF the exports were textiles.
AMNESTY AMENDMENT-The Parnellites will
introduce their customary amnesty amendment 10
the Queens Speech al The opening OF Parliament
ARTISTS NATURALIzED.-"The Gazette" OF
Wednesday notified the public the naturaliza-
ton OF Professor Hubert Herkomer. r. A.. and
Alma r adema. r. 4. Incidentally IT says that
Herkomer's nationality IS unknown; Alma -Tadema
cordine TO books OF reference born at WAL
Bavaria. on May %. lAs.
weather has had alarming effect the health
of the metropolis. The mortality is 80 per cent
above the normal rate: and the fatalities through
up total OF 72 during the last week
SWEDEN AND NORWAY.-The Swedes seem
inclined TO take advantage of Russian preoccupa-
ton In the far East TO reopen hostilites with Nor
WAY When the relations between the two coun-
tries were strained. in 1896 It became evident that
Russia was inclined to aid Norway In exchange