The Washington times., 1901-10-02
FOREIGN TOPICS.


| clay, Secretary of State
These men are in England for a three
fold purpose. First of all, they seek
rectification in regard to the navigation
of the River Manoh. At present the navi
CATION Of that river, which is of the ut
| most Importance to the trade and devel-
opment of the country. is by treaty entire
ly under British control. 1t is unusual
among nations for one to have the ex-
elusive navigation of a river which forms
natural boundary between two of them.
Usually in such conditions the waterway
is considered neutral.
The Republic, oeded the entire river to
the British Government in 1885, at the
time the boundary was delimited between
Liberia and Sierra Leone. This course
was adopted because Of the friendly ad-
vice of England. When the treaty was
entered into the French had established
a trading station on an island in the Ma
noh and the Liberians were urged by the
colonial authorities. of Sierra Leone to
grant the entire riverine rights to the
| British in order to avoid complications
with France.
1t seems that up till two or three years
ago this arrangement with regard to the
exclusive control of the river by the Brit
! ish led to no friction, but now the Liberian
traders are constantly getting into serious
trouble because of it In one case cit-
zen imprisoned and shamefully treat
| ed. Later, when carried before the Brit
ish commissioner, he was released and his
goods returned to him, while the frontier
police were reprimanded for their action In
the matter. But the friction continues and
Increases and unless something Is done,
1t is said, the irritation that is being pro-
duced may result in some of the English
traders being killed" 1t is to try TO settle
this affair in mutually satisfactory man
ner that the delegation has been discuss
ing the situation with Mr.. Chamberlain.
Although this is the chief aim of the
Iiberian officials, they have other objects
in hand. One of these is to have estab
lished bank in connection with the Brit
ish Bank of West Africa. If this is done
the monetary system of Liberia must be
come English, whereas at present it is
based on that of the United States. The
principal trade OF Liberia Is almost eX-
clusively with England and the mining
companies now exploiting the territory
are also English.
The delegation is anxious to attract
British capital and enterprise to Liberia,
especially to its mines, but deprecateS a
great thrush OF whites. They are, not
unreasonably, desirous Of keeping Lii
IBERIA for the Liberans--that the blacks
own country shall remain his very own
that there shall be at least one indie
pendent negro land where the negro may
work out his destiny in his own way.
Liberia still emulates the political con-
ditions Of the United States. 1t has its
President, Senate House OF Representa-
tives. Secretary of the Treasury, etc
This is natural enough. for the negro
Republic was founded by the American
Colonization Society, but in days when
the United States had no imperial am
bitions-indeed. would have scornfully
denied that any such ambitions were pos
sible However Liberia has now very
little to do with America. and the number
Of emigrants it receives from this country
is inconsiderable AT present its inter
ests are closely bound up with Great
Britain.
An interesting return on the working
of the New Zealand old age pensions act
has just been published. The act has
been in operation for three years. In the
first year 7.443 pensions were granted, the
number increased in the second year to
IL. 25S and in the third year to Z 405. The
total amount of the u. i05 pensions in force
at the end of the third year was 81 059, $50.
The maximum pension granted is equal
to $50. and of the total of l.. .405 pension
ers 10.356 are in receipt of the minimum
pension, the remainder having small pen
slons ranging from SS5 to So. OF the total
number of pensions now in force l. G9S have
been granted TO Maoris and I1.30 to Eu-
rcpeans. The annual cost of administra-
tion of she act is about S12,300.
The regular army of Sweden on peace
footing Is composed of 81. 4.329 enlisted men,
1920 officers, 1.655 musicians, $40 engineers,
and 623 members of the staff, making a
total effective fighting force of 39.114. OF
these 6.s9i are cavalry and 2, ,432 artillery.
These forces ccrrDose the garrisons at
Stockholm and the other principal cities
of the country and are at all times under
arms.
The militia. divided into regiments and
companies according TO location. numbers
Isl 900 men and is subject TO call by the
King at all hours and under any cir
cumstances. Each member of the militia
must SERVE certain time in the army,
eight months for infantry and twelve
months for cavalry and artillery, the ser
vice being extended over the period of
five years. During this five years man
spends from two to four months each
year in a garrison or camp. according TO
the Judgment of his commanding officers.
when he receives the nominal pay of the
private in the regular army. He has no
option to the time of the annual pc
riod of service. He may be asked TO re-
main in the army for eight or twelve
months continuously; lie may be called
out for thirty days one year and five
months the next year 1t all depends upon
When a man has served his time in the
militia he is given certificate to that
effect. which exempts him from further
active military duty and makes him
member Of the reserves. which number
2J3, 900 men, all of whom have served in
the militia and are subject TO the sum
mons of the King whenever the country
is invaded by a foreign foe. With local
troubles they have nothing tc do. Ihe
fu ppTN a gffa
such emergency, but under the Swedish
system the effective force at the command
Of the King in case of foreign invasion
Is something like $4,000 men.
The navy of Sweden is comparatively
small but for its numerical strength it
is probably the most effective in the
world. At least that is the opinion Of
competent critics. The total force num-
bers 1900 officers and men on peace
footing which may be increased to $500
from the reserves on few hours notice.
The fleet consists of ten hrst-class cruis-
ers and battleships. four second and seven
third class five torpedo catchers. fifteen
torpedo boats and twenty gunboats of
small tonnage, the armament of the fleet
being go guns and ninety-seven rapid
firing guns. All the vessels were built in
Sweden.
Every Swede is a sailor. He is brought
up on the water and taught in childhood
to swim and TO sail boat, and, although
the shipping industry is not so extensive
as in Norway, the national interest in
aquatic sports is probably greater and
more general thar in any other nation.
The long line of seacoast and the 1,l00
lakes within Swedish territory give abund-
ant opportunity for the exercise of this
inclination. Hence. in case of war the
navy could be recruited indefinitely with
competent men.
The result of a recent automobile COM
petition has demonstrated in a very mark
Il daarsa that in thiS industry ti,a Igritiub