The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-08
SITUATION IS CRITICAL
The Times Abuse of France Is
Significant.
WILL NOT AVOID A WAR
Great Britain Has Set Her Seal Upon
Egypt-Cecil Rhodes Cape Town
Cairo Railroad-Germany
Will Veto 1t.
Copyright 1895 by Associated Press.

| Copyright 1895 by Associated Press
| London, Jan. All events seem to
work together in European politics to
| increase the tension between Great
| Britain and France The past week
has brought Madagascar and Egypt
forward as irritants, just when the mu-
tual irritability was subsiding. Even
the most conservative observers begin
to take a pessimistic view of the rela-
| tons between the two powers. This in
Guides those who up to the present have
| considered the belligerency to be mere
| talk, due to upersensitiveness upon the
part of France and to the unnecessary
| gruffness upon the part Of Great Brit
ain insisting on what she considers to
| be her rights. The past "a hours brought
| the publication of the Madagascar blue
| book which was followed by leading
| editorial in the Times denouncing
| France in language SO fiery for that
conservative newspaper that French
| men are reading the two together and
are constituting them as parts of de-
liberate policy inspired by one mind.
That mind, in the theory of the man in
the streets, is Joseph Chamberlain, the
secretary of state for the colonies. Other
papers may storm and scold and not be
noticed, but when the Times becomes
abusive, foreigners interpret it as being
| the voice of the government In the
present instance some Englishmen will
place the same construction upon it's
utterances, recalling how the Times led
the mo surrender cry over the Fashoda
| incident under evident inspiration. One
fact is certain, public opinion in Great
Britain will not sanction the govern
| ment to swerve an inch to avoid war
with France, thinking that if it must
come this is the best time to have it out.
| Many people give Importance to the
| issue of the Madagascar blue book al
| most simultaneously with the quiet, but
unmistakable, announcement at Khar-
toum, by which the British agent there,
| Viscount Cromer, in his remarks to the
sheikhs, announced Great Britain had
set her seal upon Egypt. If there was a
doubt in the minds of her European
rivals that Great Britain intended to
foreclose the mortgage upon which she
has expended so much labor and blood
to secure, it must have been set at rest
by the utterances of Lord Cromer. in
which the word ''protectorate'' was
written in large letters. though the gov
ernment's mouthpiece carefully alb
stained from using that incendiary
word. more definite notice that
Great Britain's tenure of Egypt is per-
manent could not be asked.
In the meantime an enterprise of the
utmost moment in, the furtherance of
Great Britain's domination in Africa is
about to be contaminated. Cecil Rhodes,
the former premier and alleged instiga-
tor of the jameson raid and so-called
Napoleon of South Africa is going to
England to arrange for pushing for
ward the Cape Town Cairo railroad, so
long the dearest dream of imperialists.
A definite proposition will be presented
by Mr.. Rhodes to London capitalists for
an extension of the railroad from Bulu-
Wayo to Lake Tanganyika. He does not
pretend it will be paying investment
from the start. Its Importance for sew
eral years will be political instead of
commercial, and he hopes to persuade
the government to smooth the way by
guaranteeing 312 per cent. interest on
the bonds to cover the cost of cOnstruc-
ton. But one barrier stands in the way
in the form of the Congo convention
guaranteeing neutrality on the part of
the continent about Lake Tanganyika,
which even the autocrat of Rhodesia
will find hard to force. Here Germany
has the veto on Great Britain's adj
vance, which she cannot be expected to
waive without an indemnity.
Two young Americans, Messrs. w.
Vrooman and c. A. Baird, members Of
the Oxford university, are inaugural
ing a scheme for the establishment of
college for labor leaders, which is at
tracing considerable attention. 1t APP
pears that they came especially from
America to carry out the project. The
college will be called Ruskin hall. They
have leased Stebbs house. an old man
sion built in 1649, near Christ college,
and it will be opened on Washington's
birthday by meeting in Oxford town
hall. Ruskin hall will accommodate 40
men. The entire expense of the students
for board, lodging and tuition will be
81 per week. Fifty gratuitous buttons
will be %iven during the first two years
and SO students have already been Sc
lecsed for the first year. The funds of
the scheme are provided by an Amer
lean admirer of John Ruskin, the pain
ter and author.
The libel suit of William Waldorf
Aston against the Daily Mail for saying
he dined 40 persons about a segment
of a California tree to win a wager will
soon be heard. Mr.. Astor's declarat ton
says he was held up to public ridicule''
thereby. He has retained Sir Edward
Clarke, the former solicitor general, and
other lawyers, while the legal forces of
Alfred HarmsWorth, principal proprie-
tor of the Daily Mail and other papers.
| will be led by the Right Hon. Edward
III. Carson, the former solicitor general
of Ireland.