The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-04
"A DUAL ALLIANCE.
viii Accept the Dtfl d Nj. jeseph
chamberlain.
FRENCH ADMIRAL HAS MISSION
He Is to Seize Bcyrout aud Two
Syrian Ports
WITH APPROVAL OF the SULTAN.
England viii Then Be Asked to Evacuatc
The Nile Valley.
ANNEXATION OF TWO BoER REPUBLICS
Will Not he Ratified with the cen-
sent OF Russia and Francc-Af-
fairs Complicated.
Especial to The Post,

Especial to The Post.)
New York, December 3.--The world's
Washington special says:
Mr.. Chamberlain's speech attacking the
French government may lead to new and
serious embarrassments for Great Britain.
Tho dual alliance tFrance and Russal
proposes to accept Chamberlain's chal-
lengc. and to do so in no uncertain terms.
A diplomat, whose sources of iniorms-
ton are unimpeachahle. said The cabled
report that the French Admiral Fourner
was to be received at Constant!nopie car
ried with 1t news of the greatest interest.
Admiral Fournier is charged with mis-
sion of the utmost dclicacy. He proposes
to seize Beyrout and az least two other
Syrian ports. He Is charged to gain the
approval of tho sultan for this scheme.
"At first sight It would seem that this
plan is an invasion of the Mahometan
empire. In another sense It is a diver
sion in his favor. The British occupy tho
dominion of his surragan and vassnl, the
khcdivo of Egypt.
THE meeting of the sultan and the
admiral OF tho French fleets in the Medi-
terranean gives an important aspect to
the French programme. 1t is known in
diplomatic circles that the French have
only been seeking pretext to exert pres
sure npon Great Britain for the evacuation
OF the Nile valley. When this programme.
now well In hand. is executed, the an
swer of tho French cabinet to Grcat
Britain viii be, These ports will not lie
evacuated before England has left the Milo
valley
'.Thc course OF the French fleets aiong
the Mediterranean coast gives an idea OF
the seriousness of the French design. IT
also explains tho unusual activity of the
British navy.
at Is further announced In private ad
vices to tho embassies at Washington that
the sublime porte is greatly disturbed on
account OF the Transvaal war. The official
world at Constantinople fears that un-
welcome encroachments win DO made upon
the Ottoman empire In the Mediterranean
and the Red sea.
"of course. the feelings Of the sultan
toward the English arc well known. Two
years ago, when British capitalists Of
fered to build the Smyrna and Dlarkebar
railroad. without charging interest upon
the bonds. the sultan refused TO Sign the
franchise for the British monopoly, and
granted the same Identical privileges TO
n German syndicate, backed by the Ger
man emperor. who charged per cent
upon all the moneys advanced and de-
mandcd certain very important privileges.
IT Is fact known in the diplomatic
world that France has decided to occupy
the Syrian ports with or without the con-
Kent OF the sultan. II is expected that
the sultan will make "A strong diplomatic
protest but he Will not dispute the occu-
patton by force of arms.
France ana Russia have determined
that the annexation OF the two Roer re-
publics to Grent Britain shall NOT be rati-
ned by their consent, At the proper timo
they hope to be in position to make tnelr
wishes understood and regarded by tho
British cabinet"
The Russian embassy has Just had news
OF one OF the most interesting develop
ments of diplomacy. Meneik II king OF
Abyssinia and Shoa, proposes to visit the
car and czarina. He will afterward at
tend tho Paris exposition. This Is the
Same Mcnelik who on March !, 1885, In
iiicted such terrible defeat upon the
italian armies at Adowa. The Italians lost
seyAral thousand men In this battle.
Speculation is rife in the diplomatic
world as to the subtle purpose Ct the cxar
in bringing about this visit. Afenelik ~
the head OF nation OF about A,50e,0 900 Deo-
pie. His soldiers are warriors OF nrst rate
ability. They are constantly menaced by
both the English and Italians.
London, December 4.--Mr. Chamber
lain's Leicester speech continues 70 form
the subject Of extended comment here
ana abroad. The New York correspon-
dent Of the Daily News deciaree that tho
speech has greatly increased the popular
dislike OF the colonial secretary "A the
United States and that instead of belng
an aid. Mr.. Chamberlain IL en- almost
insuperable obstacle 70 an Anglo Ameri'
can alliance sxs y
The Times. 10 an editorial Nhieh on
deavors to temper the feeIipg cfetts4 py
Mr.. ChamberIain's "sdinitte4 iadlseFeet
enthusiasm says l<ord HeaehoFy'e cFlfl,
clsus are perfectly iissleed W 4 Hq1lla
be unsrssstr' e ~ s3gat y