The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-30
ENGLAND is ON TOP AGAIN.
Her Nerves Quitting Down Mter All
The Foreign Disturbances.
REAL D'NGER is IN WEST AFRICA.
Strengthening of Lines Goes on without
Blcster-Norwsy and Sweden Trouble
Growing More serio. s-yiews ofa
Carlist Organ-Spanish Navy.

LONDON. Jan. 29.-Aftor an unusually
prolonged period of extreme tension, all
indications point TO an early irnprovemcn,
In. u not complete solution Of the va
rious internationa, political problems agi-.
tating the nerves OF Gieat Britain.
me foreign and colonial Offices are be-
Ezrn;ng to see daylight through the dark
ness which has long boon enveloping
The far east west Africa, the Upper Nile
and India, and unless signs fail and in
formation from tho best informed circles
is faulty. the 5far3sis Of Salisbury and
Mr.. Joseph cismb<rIein, Secretary OF
State for the Colonies, viii divide the
honors and Great Britain will secure
about all she asks
So far es China ~ CONCERNED this view,
IN connection with the speech of Mr..
Curzon, the parlians ntary secretary for
the ioreign Office at Balton on Tuesday
end the repuse4 acceptance of the Brit
tsh loan II generally regarded as cor
rect. M
~ THE LOAN.
Mr.. Cufzon fOrcshadowed the probable
SUCCESS OF the loan negotiations, the
Rchievement of Great Britains purpose
fn keeping the ports free TO the whole
world and the maintenance of the treaty
rights whereby spheres of influence are
rendered impossible" The Russian pro-
posal of q loan to China on the same
terms as Great Britain was not taken
seriously. 1t Is understood that she
has not the money herself without draw
ing upon her war reserve funds. Paris
IS daily showing less inclination TO burn
its fingers in a game. in which, even Ii
successful Russia would be the only
gamer while Germany appears TO have
completely come around TO the British
side.
Throughout, the situation has never
been so alarming as sensatioralists at
tempted to paint it. Hence the Cars
peaceful assurances and Lord George
Hamilton's statement in his speech on
Tuesday that relations with Russia were
entirely satisfactory, will surprise
America.
WHERE THE DANGER LIES.
Turning to West Africa. an official of
the Colonial office informs the Associated
Press that the impossibility of securing
witnesses from the west coast earlier is
the reason for the delay in the Paris ne
gotiations. Thus far all the British de-
mands have been conceded nominaIly and
Professionally, pending the result of the
convention" But Mr.. Chamberlain is per
fectly satisfied that the British claims are
upheld and that the French will be con-
tined westward of line prolonged from
the present -Dahomey frontier TO
the Niger. and along the right bark OF the
Niger to Say.
In the meantime he does not propose to
risk being caught mapping by possible
adverse decision OF the convention. so he
pushing through supplies to the front as
rapidly as possible.
In regard to the upper Nile the inter-
esting news which Mr.. Curzon dropped on
Tuesday TO the effect that the ratifica-
tions OF the treaty between Great Britain
and King Menelik, Of Abyssinia, have
been exchanged and that the government
hopes to shortly accredit a direct repre-
sentative to the Abyssinia court. has given
the greatest satisfaction as helping TO
solve the question OF the Upper Nile.
AN EXPEDITION.
In the meanwhile young Henry Caven-
dish, g. distant relative of the Duke of
Devonshre. in preparing to start again
for Equatorial Africa accompanied by
Lieutenant Andrews, eight British officers
and Mr.. Dodson who was the companion
of DR.. Donaldson Smith, the American ex-
plorer
Mr. Cavendish will take with him four
hundred armed mer and Il number OF
rapid-fre guns. AS his objective point is
the junction of the White Nile and the
Sobat river. al Sobat. the purpose of the
expedition. II will readily be seen. is TO
cut of the French from reaching Fa-
shoda, which is only a short distance
north Of Sobat.
While Mr. .Cavendish is personally de-
fraying the cost of the expedition. ii is
lnown that he has been in frequent COM
inunication with the aMrquis OF Salisbury
through the Duke of Devonshire; so it is
safe TO say the expedition is under gov
eminent auspices.
NORWAY AND SWEDEN.
The news from Christiania on Friday
last. that the commission appointed 10
draw up proposals for the better under
standing of the relations between Norway
ard Sweden has been unable 10 reach
an agreement indicates that the ten
sion between Norway and Sweden is fast
approaching the swapping point. and ii is
stated that On the frontier the arming
Of both parties is rapidly progressing,
both sides preparing for war.
The health of King Humbert Of Italy
Is again causing uneasiness; the fainting
fits have re-occured.
A Carlist organ. discussing the visit OF
q United States hattleship to Havana. ex-
presses the opinion that the Spanish Gov
ernment Is justihably alarmed, adding
Though every effort is made to disguise
It,"
In spite Of the officil statement of Ad-
miral Cervaeres. The admiral of the fleet
on Tuesday last. Cat a conference with
the Minister OF Marine, when he asserted
that the recent evolutions had demon
strated the perfect condition ,of the Span
ish feet Admiral Ccrvaeres, in realty,
reported that there was not ship ready
for service: that the vessels not actually
IN dry-dock ought 10 be there; that many
Of he boilers were defective; that some
ships were no. yet armed. and that most
Of the vessels requiring cleaning.
In view OF the perhdity OF the United
States IL is not surprising that such help
lcssness creates alarm