The age-herald., 1898-01-30
SIGNS POINT TO AN
 EARLY SOLUTION. Of the Problems Nov ASitatinS British
 Nerves, SITUATION IN FAR EAST Salisbury and Chamberlain Wilf Divide HOnOrS, and England Get Her Desires. FRANCE IS AFRAID OF THE FIRE Will Not Medde In Game When Russia Will Get All the Swag British Colon
 ies in Africa Will
 Be Upheld.
FRANCE IS AFRAID OF THE FIRE

London, Jan 29.-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 the nerves of Great Britain.
 The foreign and colonial offices are be- ginning to see daylight through the dark ness which has long been enveloping the far east, West Africa, the Upper Nile and India, and unless signs fail and informa ton from the best informed circles Is faulty, the Marquis of Salisbury and MT. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of state for the colonies, will divide the honors and Great Britain will secure about all she hsks.
 That Chinese Loan
 So far as China is concerned, this view, in connection with the speech of MT. Cur zon, the parliamentary secretary for the foreign office at Bolton on Tuesday, and the reported acceptance of the British loan, is generally regarded as correct. MT. Curzon flores allowed the probable success of the loan 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- sible." The Russian proposal of a loan on the same terms as Great Britain was not taken seriously It is understood that she has not the money herself, without draw ing on her way reserve funds.
 Afraid of the Fire
 France is showing less inclination to burn its fingers in a game in which, even if successful, Russia would be the only gainer, while Germany appears to have come completely around to the British side Throughout, the situation has never been so alarming as sensationalists at tempted to paint it. Hence the czars peaceful assurances and Lard George Hamilton's statement in his speech on Tuesday that the relations of Great Britain with Russia were entirely satis- factory, will not have surprised America.
 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 nego- tiations. Some of the most important Wit nesses arrived only last week, and they are now in Paris. Thus far all the British demands have been conceded provisionally pending the result of the convention.
 Colonies Will Be Upheld
 Rut MT. Chamberlain is perfectly sat.s- fled that the British claims will be up- held and that the French will be confined westward from line prolonged from the present Lagos-Dahomey frontier to the Niger and along the right bank 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 is pushing troops and supplies to the front as rapidly as possible. new regiment of 2,000 Hussars has been enrolled at the Ibaden during the last few weeks and de- tachments will be sent to the front as soon as the men become efficient.
 In regard to the upper Nile, the inter- esting news which MT. Curzon dropped on Thursday to the effect that the rat ain and King Menelik, of Abyssinia. has been exchanged, and that the government had hopes shortly to accredit direct representative at the Abyssinian court, has given the greatest satisfaction as helping to solve the question of the upper Nile. The terms of the treaty will not be dVuiseu untii II IS deSpatcneo 10 pAxAso' ment, but a hint Is dropped at the colo nial office that the agreement is based on the principle that friendly Abyssinia on the upper Nile is preferable to hostile France. Therefore King Menelik will be allowed to gratify his ambitions in the equatorial Hinterland in a manner not in- terfering with the Anglo Egyptian plans. A Trader and a Warrior
 As King Menelik is trader as well as a warrior the agreement also contemplates assistance in opening up the country, and 1t is understood the British will acquire