The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-11
EUROPE AGOG.
RumOrs of Diplomatic Alliances
Are Thick.
ReaIignment of the Powers Is
in Progress.
UNITED STATES IN 1T.
Remarkable FriendIiness of
Germany and England.
Liberia Begins to Attract At
tentiOn of the Continent.

TCoypright. 1899. the Associated Press.1
London. Nov 11.-EurOpe is now agoS
with rumors of diplomatic activity and
alliances that may be effected. AS a
result the relations of the European
powers seem to be rapidly assuming a
new phase. This. doubtless is not lit
tie due to the fact that in nearly all the
recent international negotiations the
United States has been factor Juds-
ing from Lord SaIisbUry's inference this
can be partly attributed to the evident
determination of the governments OF
the powers to work harmOniOusly with
Great Britain, a policy which judging
from the continental press, is obnoxious
to the majority of the peoples.
The forthcoming visit of Emperor
William to Queen Victoria is regarded
as Gaping the climax of British diplo-
matte success and the feeling of salts
faction at this state of affairs IS not IN
the slightest degree marred by any
feeling of jealousy over the emperOrS
recent meeting at POtsdam. The state
ment that Count Won BuelOW Will ac-
company 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 beuI-
Ting his visit on the score that 1t IS
merely obligatory one to his grand
mother But while the emperor un-
doubUedly intends to officially empha-
size the friendship of Germany for
Great Britain it is scarcely likely as
some of the optimistic declare, that inn
pOrtant treaties looking toward closer
alliance Will be the immediate conse-
quence of the imperial jaunt. 1t is
pointed out that all that could be done
in this direction seems already ac-
complished and several diplomats have
expressed the opinion to representa-
tives of the Associated Press that this
was far more than was expected and
that internal 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 hOstii-
ties.
SAMOAN AGREEMENT.
The announcement of the Samoan
agreement throws a pleasant shadow
over this meeting of Queen Victoria and
Emperor William and assures the visi-
tor a hearty reception on the part of
the British public An elaborate pro-
8ramne has been drawn up Upon the
arrival at Portsmouth November 20, of
the imperial yacht HOhenzoIlern 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 SINH
larly attired and the Duke of York.
After the SaluteS and a review, the
party viii go direct to Windsor staying
there five days. Thence the emperor
viii go to Sandringham for two days,
and viii meet there Lord Salisbury, Mr..
BdALOuF. LORD EOS6DeTX. MI AnaTQD Der
lain, Lord WOlSeley, and other nOta-
bles. The remainder of his majesty's
visit will probably be spent at the Duke
of DevOnshire's seat at ChatsWOrth and
in shooting in Scotland. the imperial
party returning to Germany via Leith,
on the Hohenzollern.
British feeling on the subject of the
German emperOr's visit is well voiced
by Punch's cartoon representing the
emperor who, challenged by a British
sentry, replied: Friend, and the SEN
raEnnndE Pass friend nd al g
we'll" emphasizing the word friend"
PAYING HER WAY.
After twenty-five years of bank
ruptcy Americas first colony. Liberia
IS now rehabilitated, the interest on her
public debt being paid. In 1871 Liberia
fOated loan of $500. 600 chiefly in Eng
land but three years later the little re
public failed to meet the interest and
this condition of affairs has prevailed
ever since until now Liberia s fiscal
agents in London have announced that
the government is once more able to
meet its obligations. This step was rem
dered feasible by a new source of reve-
nue. derived from rubber, and interest
which the bondhOlders deSpaired of get
ting is now being paid from the royal
ties turned into the government of the
republic by the Liberian rubber syndi-
cate. an essentially English concern.
The Associated Press learns that thu
arrears of interest are practically
swept away as the bOndhOlders agree
to accept the comparatively small sum
of S75.000 in settlement of the full
amount of the arrears, though this ap-
preparation viii not be applied until the
extinction of the debt. In the mean
while the current interest has been re
duced from seven to three per cent.
rising Z per cent every three years un-
til it reaches per cent. which rate
will be maintained until the extinction
OF the loan.
The development of the rubber indus
try in Liberia has attracted consider
able attention which has not confined
itself to the commercial aspect. for the
Associated Press understands that
there is likely TO be in the near future
diplomatic action in relation to the
status of Liberia. The encrOa chmentS
of the French upon its territory have
caused no little disquietude at the for
eign office, while it is the general belief
that the United States would gladly Sc
cure cOalng station on the Liberian
coast In these and other respects 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 authOrita-
lively that the future status of Liberia
was recently much deuberated upon by
several cabinets. Having thus become
IS quite probable that the American
negroes who still retain the reins of
government in this slice of the west
coast of Africa may soon be threa tened
with the possibility of exercising their
privileges under the tutelage of one
arrangement the United States by vir-
ture of the original settlement would
doubtless have a share.
INTEREST IN THE WAR
The intense interest in the war has
not abated and the enOrroOq1S amount