The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
MIR CLOUDS BLOW AWAY.
EyGEAND'S VARIOUS CONPLlCA-
TIOMs sTRAIGHTENING OUT.
swedea and Norway In Becoming
More Marked. and the Tension II
said 70 Approach Swapping Point.

| Copyrighted. 1895. by the Associated Press.
| LONDON. Jan. 2s.-After an unusually
! prolonged period of extreme tension, all
| signs point TO an early Improvement in. if
! not complete solution OF. the various
international political problems agitating
I the nerves of Great Britain. The foreign
| and colonial Offices are beginning to see
/ daylight through the darkness which has
long been enyeloping the far East West
( Africa. the upper Nile and India. Unless
! signs fail and information from the best
| informed circles Is faulty, the Marquis of
Salisbury and Joseph Chamberlain, secre-
tary of state for the colonies. will divide
! the honors, and Great Britain will secure
/ about all she asks.
| So far as China Is concerned this view,
| in connection with the speech of Mr.. Cur
| zon, the parliamentary secretary for the
i foreign office. at Bolton on Tuesday, and
the reported acceptance of the British loan
is generally regarded as correct. Mr.. Cur
zon foresnadowed the probable success of
/ the kaD negotiations, the achievement of
+. Great Britain's purpose in keeping the
ports free to the whole world, and the
maintenance of treaty rights whereby
spheres of influence are rendered impos-
sibie. The Russian proposal of loan on
the same terms as Great Britain was not
taken seriously. 1t Is understood that she
has not the money herself withou; draw
/. France Is daily showing less inclination
TO burn her fingers in a game in which
even If successful. Russia would be the only
gamer. While Germany appears to have set
completely around to the British side
| Throughout. the situation has never been
SO alarming as sensationalists attempted 10
paint ii. Hence the cars peaceful, assur-
ances and Lord George Hanltons state
ment in his speech on Tuesday. that rela-
| tons with Russia We're entirely satisfac-
tory. are not surprising.
Turning to West Africa an official of the
coioniai ofiiee 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. Some of the most imporfant
witnesses arrived only last week and they
are now in Paris. Thus far, all the Brit
ism demands have been conceded nominal
~ and professionally, pending the result
OF the convention but Mr. Chamberlain
is perfectly satisfied that the British claims
VIII De upheld, and that the French will
De confined westward of line prolonged
from the present Lagos Dahomey frontier
10 the Niger. and along the right hank Of
the Niger to Say
In the meantime. he does not propose 70
risk being caught mapping by a probable
adverse decision of the convention. so he
Is pushing troops and supplies to the front
"A
OF Use Hussars has been enrolled at baden
during the last few weeks and detach-
ments VIII be sent 10 the front IS soon ~
the men become efficient.
IN regard TO the Upper Nile, the interest
ing news which Mr.. Curzon dropped on
thursday to the effect that the ratifica-
tons OF the treaty between Great britain
ana King Menelik of Abyssinia have been
exchanged and that the government bonas
shortly to accredit representatives at the
Apysslman court. has given the greatest
satisfaction as helping to solve the ofes
tion OF the Upper Nile The terms of The
treaty VIII not be divulged until it is pre-
sented to parliament, but the hints dropned
at the colonial Office indicate that tho
agreement is based on the principle that
friendly Abyssinia on the INNER Nile -
/ preferable To hostile France. Therefore
King Menelik will be allowed to sratIfv
mis- ambitions in the equatorial, Hinter
iand IN a manner not interfering with tina
Angio-Egyptian plans.
As hhg Menelik Is trader as we'll
as warrior, the agreement also contan,
plates assistance In openinp mn ,bo 80.
Try, ana 1t is understood the British will,
| acquire the right to traverse Abvss;,a
ana other advantages which will becorna
/ apparent as soon as khartoum is recap-
tured.
In the meanwhile young Henry Cavern
Gish, distant relative of the Duke OF
DeVonshire. Is preparing to start again
for equatorial Africa aceomuanfea by
Lieut. Andrews. eight British officers and
Mr Dodson. who was the companion OF
Dr. Donaldson Smith, the American ex-
plorer
Cavendish will take with him 400 armed
men and a number of rapid-fring guns.
As his objective point is the junction Of
the White Nile and the Sobat river st
Sobat, the purpose OF the expedition. It
VIII readily be seen. is 10 cut off the
French from Hasboda. which is only a
short distance north of Sobat.
Possibly Mr.. CavenGish may be able to
take advantage OF the new treaty with
King Menelik and get a short cut through
AhysSinia While Mr.. Cavend!sh Is ner-
sonaiiy defrayng the cost CT the expetii-
ton. IL IS known tina. he has been In fire.
quent communication with the MARQUIS of
Salisbury through the Duke of Devon
shire, so IT is safe 10 say the expedition
! is under government auspices.
The news from Christiania on Friday
last that the commission appointed to
/ draw Up proposals for the better reguia-
ton OF the customs between Norway and
Sweden has been unable 10 reach an
agreement. indicates that the tension be-
tween Sweden and Norway Is fast ap-
preaching the swapping point. and it IA
stated that on the frontier the arming of
both parties IS rapidly progressing, both
( sides preparing for war.
The Correro. organ OF the Cariists. dis
/ cussiug the visit OF the United States
/ hattleship To Havana. expresses the opln-
/ ion that the Spanish would he jgsiifiably
! alarmed adding:
"As a fact. IL is the government itself
which Is seriously ala rrned, though every
effort is made to disguise IL. In spite OF
the official statement Of Admiral CervaraS
the admiral OF the feet. on Tuesday last
AZ a conference with the minister OF ma
rlne, when he asserted that the recent evo-
buttons had demonstrated the perfect con-
dition OF the Spanish fleet. Admiral Ger
VSras In reality reported that the vessels
81 =. q. q. n. 2.