The Washington times., 1901-10-29
EOREIGNI TOPICS:


without any of the uhseemly wrangling
That took place in Berlin regarding Prince
Chun. The reception in Tokyo was iden-
tlcal with that accorded to any special
Minister PleniPotentiary. Ma TUng. the
envoy, accompanied by four of his suite,
was driven from the Imperial Hotel to
the palace in a carriage sent from the
household department An imperial
chamberlain acted as guide and the
cSrt &c inony at the palace was limited TO
the presentation of the letter of apology
which Ma carried, after which refresh
ments were served as usual
The reserve of the Russian press,
amounting in some quarters to practical
silence, in regard to the political situation
in Afghanistan has caused considerable
comment in diplomatic circles in touch
with Downing Street, and some doubt has
been cast upon the accuracy CT de
spatches from Simla stating that all was
quiet at Kabul, and that Habibuliah Khan
had been recognized as Ameer Of Afghan
istan by his brothers and chiefs of the ma
tive troops. 1t is learned from Russian
sources of information that the new
Ameer is considerably disturbed by the
sudden withdrawal of his brothers and
has taken timely measures of defence,
surrounding himself with strong bodies of
ldllii vi ubopS. IL Is also Sdfu ltlttl ne mas
sent out on all the roads leading to Kabul
strong detachmentS, which VIII prevent
the return of his brothers to the capital,
or, II possible bring them back as rebel
prisoners. Habibullsh is also believed to
be aware that under the flag of his elder
brother. Omar will assemble enormous
numbers of the warlike people of the hills,
who recognized him as the lawful sue
cessor to Abdur Rahman, and look upon
Nasrullah Khan as the favorite of Eng
land. 1t is also thought at St Petersburg
that Habibullah has resolved to ask the
assistance of the Car and the Ameer of
Rokhara, promising always to be the
faithful friend of Russia.
A highly placed Russian official is said
TO nave expressed the opinion that Mas
rullah Khan and Omar Khan would not
take their brothers proclamation as
Ameer quietly. 1t is even stated that the
sympathies of the troops and the people
OF Afghanistan are not with Habibullah,
but win Omar, whom trey viii endeavor
to seat en- mis- fathers throus. and that II
is impossible TO foresee the exact course
and time of events. but without doubt the
country Will shortly be in the throcs of
a general insurection. which VIII not be
in the power of the native troops to quell.
In particular the wariiRe tribes, who are
always in state of ferment, and were
only united under the despotic rule of ABB
dur Rahman, will now try TO gain their
independence. Such is the semi-ofiicial
opinion in St Petersburg.
For centuries the Dannemora iron ore
mines. in Sweden, have been to the iron
maker what Mecca is to the Mohammed
an. 1t is there that the purest iron ore
commercially known to man exists. The
operating company is a close corporation,
and the ore is sold to no one outside of
it; that is, the owners all possess iron
or steel producing plants. and obtain from
these mines part of their supplies. They
limit the production to 5000 tons per an
mum, and place it at price which might
seem prohibitory, but from its quality
they can AFFORD to so charge themselves.
The ore, which now comes from entirely
Underground operation, is magnetic, with
an average of so per cent of metallic iron
phorus. 1t requires very little fiux in
the blast furnace, as the gangue is prin-
cipally limestone, and the phosphorus is
OF that minute quality which generally
LEADS one to doubt the chemists reputed
results.
The mine has been operated for at Ieass
400 years. AT first it was owned by pri-
yate parties, but later reverted to the
Government. In 1853 it was again taken
by individuals, and has been successfully
worked ever since. Up to 1923 the ore
was disrupted by fire setting. In that
year the use of gunpowder was intro
feet.
Although, as has been announced by
cable dispatches, the French Government
firmly maintains its demand to exact the
amount of the Lorando claim from the
Porte. ii is also evident according to dip
lomatic advices. that it is particularly
anxious to have NJ. Constans return to
Constantinople at the earliest possible
date. Matters have been augmenting at
the French Embassy there which require
immediate and firm action 1t seems that
the Salonica Harbor Company, unable TO
obtain from the Turkish Government any
payment on account of the :. 200. .OOO francs
which il has already sunk in the harbor
works, is ready to push matters to a
crisis.
Soon after the departure of NJ. Constans
from Constantinople ii began by success
fully insisting on the removal from the
harbor of some sailing vessels loaded
with salt and belonging to the public
debt department The company next
turned It's attention to the custom house.
which Is bound by agreement to check
the payment Of harbor dues, demanding
that no goods should be allowed to leave
the custom house unless certified to have
paid these dues. This demand was met by
a fiat refusal, and the company has now
to the custom house an ulti-
matum requiring the authorities to Vacate
two large buildings which they have for
some time occupied, and which are the
property
In the meantime the attitude of Rus
sia toward the Franco-Turkish dispute is
being watched with keen interest in Ber-
lin, and it is evident from the similarity
Of dispatches from St. Petersburg appear
ing In the German press that there is a
semi official desire on the part of the
Russian Government to instruct Germans
as to its attitude. According to these
dispatches, which have appeared in the
''Berliner Neueste Nachrichten' and the
Cologne Gazette" il is admitted in
quarters in ST. Petersburg
that France had requested the support of
Russia. but that the reply was that Rus
sia could only promise to observe a be-
nevolent attitude" on account of the deli
cate situation in the Balkans, which
might become seriously complicated were
Russia to appear prominently in the pres
ent situation in the near East. on the
other hand. the Paris press decry these
Russian inspired advices in the Berlin
papers. and intimate that it would hardly
Office would make public through the
channel of the Teutonic press the rebuff
which it is alleged that the French over
lures for Russian support met with in
St Petersburg.
slight agitation has thrown the
French Nationalists in a state of furore.
The Government decided to recognize the
services rendered by General Florentin.
former Military Governor of Paris, now
on the retired list, and promoted him to
the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of
Honor ir place of General Davout. Duke
1f Aeursteadt In consequence of the lat
ter's displacement, three generals and an
admiral have handed in their resigna
tions as a protest against the Govern
nent General Florentin is the general
who led the division back from the fu-
neral of President Felix Faure to the bar
racks and who was accosted in the Rue
De Ruilly by Paul Deroulede at the head