The herald., 1898-01-30

Nile. The terms of the treaty will MOI
be divulged until it Is presented to par
Lament, but the hints dropped at th'
colonial office indicate that the agree
ment Is based on the principle tina
friendly Abyssinia, on the Upper Nile'
preferable to hostile France. Therefore
King Menelik will be allowed to gratif,
his ambitions in the equatorial Hinter
land in a manner not interfering VIII
the Anglo Egyptian plans.
AS King Menelik Is a trader as WEI
as warrior, the agreement also con-
templates assistance in opening up the
country, and it is understood the Britisf
| will acquire the right to traverse Apys'
sinia and other advantages which VIII
become apparent as soon as khartoum
| is recaptured.
| In the meanwhile young Henry Caven-
dish, a distant relative of the Duke OF
Devonshire, is preparing to start again
| for equatorial Africa, accompanied by
Lieutenant Andrews, eight British Of
| ficers and Mr.. Doddson, who was the
companion of DR.. Donaldson Smith, the
American explorer. Mr.. Cavendish VIII
take with him 400 armed men and a num-
ber of rapid-fire guns. AS his objective
and the Sobat river at Sobat, the pur-
pose of the expedition, 1t will readily be
seen, is to cut off the French from reach
ing Fashoda, which is only short dis
tance north of Sobat. Possibly Mr..
Cavendish may be able to take advant-
age of the new treaty with King Meme
iik and get a short cut through Abys-
snia.
While Mr.. Cavendish is personally de-
fraying the cost of the expedition, 1t Is
known that he has been in frequent COM
munication with the Marquis of Sails
bury through the Duke of Devonshire.
so it is safe to say the expedition is un-
der government auspices.
NORWEGIAN POLITICS
The news from Christiana on Friday
last, that the committee appointed to
draw up proposals for the better regula-
ton of trade between Norway and
Sweden has been unable to reach an
agreement, indicates that the tension be-
tween Sweden and Norway is fast ap
preaching the swapping point. and it is
stated that on the frontier the arming of
both parties is rapidly progressing, both
sides preparing for war.
THE SPANISH NAVY
The Correro, organ of the Carlists, dis
cussing the visit of the United States
battleship Maine to Havana, expresses
the belief that the Spanish public is
justifiably alarmed. adding:
CAS- a fact, it is the government itself
which is seriously alarmed, though
every effort is made to disguise it. In
spite of the official statement of Ad-
miral Cervaras, the admiral of the. fleet,
on Tuesday last, at conference with the
minister of marine, when he asserted
that the recent evolutions had demon
strated the perfect condition of the
Spanish fleet, Admiral Cervaras in real
ity reported that there was not a ship
ready for service; that the vessels not
actually in drydock ought to be there;
that many of the boilers were defective;
that some of the ships We're not yet
armed, and that most of the vessels re-
quire cleaning. In view of the perfidy
of the United States, it is not surprising
that such neglect and helplessness create
alarm
According to the same paper, much
Importance is attached to the confer
ence between NJ. Patenotre the French
to Spain, and Senior Gullon, the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs,
who, it is said, discussed the action of
the United States, "as it is we'll known
that there is great alarm in France at
the course of events. he fact that NJ.
Patenotre is intimately conversant
with United States affairs, lends addi-
tional Importance to the matter"
FRENCH AFFAIRS
While it Is true that the situa-
ton i'll the Far East continues to pro-
gress peacefully and there is every in
dication of an amicable understanding
between the powers, the situation in
France, in the opinion of well-informed
persons, is grave menace to peace and
IN the present excitable state of the ma
ton and shaky condition of the minis
try. something is likely to occur to dis
turb European peace. A note of warn
ing has even been sounded by some of
the French newspapers which urge a
cessation of the present agitation in
France, pointing out that the country
should not play into the hands of Ger
many.
The Petit Journal says: "The govern
ment may soon be unable to prevent
some one in authority from making a
statement which is liable to occasion
conflict. We have certain proofs that
Germany foresees the possibility of war
and is making arrangements accord
ingly. She means to be in the right and
accuse us of creating trouble"
The relations between France and
Great Britain are also drifting towards
a crisis. The Niger negotiations in
Paris have not reached an agreement
and there are no signs of their doing