The record-union., 1899-11-12
Relations Of Powers Seem TO be
Assuming a New Phase.
Europe AgogeWith Rumors Of Diplomatic
Activity and Possible Alliances.
Emperor William to be Warmly
Received on His Visit to Eng
land-The Announcement Of the
Samoan Agreement Throws a
Pleasant Shadow Over This
Meeting of Queen Victoria and
the Kaiser.

| Meeting or queen Victoria and
the Kaiser.
| copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, Nov l1.-Europe is now
agog with rumors of diplomatic ac-
| tivity and alliances that may be eff
fected. AS result, the relations of
the European Powers seem to be rapid
ly assuming a new phase. This, doubt
less, is not little due to the fact that
in nearly all the recent international
negotiations the United States has been
a factor. Judging from Lord Sails
burys inference, this can be attributed
| to the evident determination of these
| Governments of the great Powers to
work tremendously with Great Britain,
a policy which, judging from the con-
| tinental press, is obnoxious to the ma
jority of the continental papers. The
! forthcoming visit of Emperor William
to Queen Victoria is regarded as cap
ping the climax of British diplomatic
success, and the feeling of satisfaction
at this state of affairs is not in tie
| slightest degree marred by any feeling
of jealousy over the Emperor's recent
meeting at Potsdam.
| The statement that Count Won Bulow
will accompany Emperor William to
England is taken to be an indication
that his majesty does not mean TO give
the anti-British press any opportunity
! of belittling his visit on the score that
it is merely an obligatory one to his
grandmother. But, while the Emperor
undoubtedly intends to officially en-
phasize the friendship of Germany for
Great Britain, it is scarcely likely, as
some of the optimistic declare, that i'm
portant treaties looking toward a closer
alliance will be the immediate conse-
| quence of the imperial jaunt. 1t is
pointed out that all which could be done
in this direction seems already accom-
| plished, and several diplomats have ex-
pressed the opinion to representatives
of the Associated Press that this was
! far more than was expected, and that
international feeling was not yet ripe
for any more than a formal bond be-
tween the two nations, which three
years ago were on the verge of hostili-
| ties.
| The announcement of the Samoan
agreement throws a pleasant shadow
over this meeting of Queen Victoria
and Emperor William, and assures the
visitor hearty recognition upon the
part of the British public. An elaborate
program has been drawn up. Upon the
arrival at Portsmouth, November Goth,
of the imperial yacht Hohenzollern,
with the Emperor Empress, their two
sons and others on board, it will be met
by the British special service squadron
and, it is said, the Emperor, wearing
the uniform of a British Admiral will
be received by the Prince of Wales,
similarly attired, and the Duke of York,
After the salutes and a review, the
party will go direct to Windsor, stay
ing there five days. Thence the En-
peror will go to Sandringham for two
days and will there meet Lord Sails
bury, Mr. Balfour, Lord Roseberry, Mr.
Chamberlain, Lord Wolseley and other
nota bles. The remainder of his ma
jesty's visit will probably be spent at
the Duke of Devonshire's seat at
Chatsworth and in shooting in Scot
land, the imperial party returning to
Germany via Leith, on the Hohenzol-
lern.
British feeling on the subject of the
German Emperor's visit is well voiced
bv "Punch's" cartoon representing the
sentry. replies: Friend" and the
sentry responds: Pass, friend, and alls
WE'LL" emphasizing the word friend"
After twenty-five years of bank
ruptcy, Americas first colony, Liberia,
is now rehabilitated, the interest On her
public debt being paid. In 1871 Lii
IBERIA, floated a loan of 100000, chiefly
in England, but three years later the
little republic failed to meet the inter
est. and this condition of affairs has
prevailed ever since, until now LII
beria's fiscal agents in London have an
nounced that the Government is once
more able to meet its obligations. This
step was rendered feasible by new
source of revenue derived from rubber,
and the interest which the bondholders
despaired of getting is now being paid
from the royalties turned into the Gov
eminent of the republic by the Lii
berian rubber syndicate, an essentially
English concern. The Associated Press
learns that the arrears of interest are
practically swept away, as the bond
holders agree to accept the compare
lively small sum of $4,000 in settle
ment of the full amount of the arrears,
though the appropriation will not be
applied until the extinction of the debt.
In the meanwhile the current interest
has been reduced from to 3 per cent,
rising - per cent. every three years
until it reaches per cent, which rate
will be maintained until the extinction
of the loan. The development of the
rubber industry in Liberia has attracted
considerable attention, which has not
confined itself to the commercial aspect,
for the Associated Press understands
there is likely to be in the near future
diplomatic activity in relation to the
status of Liberia. The encroachments
of the French upon it's territory have
caused no little disquietude at the For
eign Office, while it is the general be-
lief that the United States would gladly |
secure a coaling station on the Lii
berian coast. In these and other re-
spects the renewed prosperity has
brought the territory to the notice of
the European Powers and, though the
press here has failed to observe this
particular sign of the times, it can be
said authoritatively that the future |
status of Liberia was recently much de-
liberated upon by several Cabinets.