New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-01
THE YEAR ABROAD.

IHE 1EAR AbhOAD.
In other lands than ours the year which
is just past was marked by many con-
stitutional activities. chiefly of liberal
and progressive nature. and In several
cases having their proyocation in fiscal
disputes: by settlements or steps tow
ard settlement of international contro-
versies. some of them OF long existence
and some of exceptional eXacerbaEon,
and by gratuitous and benevolent la
bors for the increase and confirmation
Of friendship among the nations The
most striking achievements in the first Of
these classes were in the East. In Tur-
key the Sultan came out of his reign-long
hiding and mingled freely with the peo-
pie, but was not able to avoid at least the
suspicion of hostility TO the constitution;
wherefore he was promptly deposed and
the subsection Of the palace to the con-
stitution was irrevocably established. In
Persia also tie Shah was deposed for
open ennty To the constitution. In
China provincial legislatures were elect
cd and other steps were taken toward
perfecting the constitutional system at
the appoint ed time. and Yuan Shih kai,
one of the chief viceroys, was retired TO
private life for alleged double dealing
with the reforms. Russia strongly con-
firmed the efficiency of the Douma, but
unhappily began a campaign against the
constitutional rights of Finland.
Coz = iional activities in the British
Fan mnised disagreement be-
T. Is q ad Commons over the bud
and a conseoteet dissolution of Par
iiamont for - appeal to The country. in
wNich iamrtiaa tariff reform and Irish
II ttiio. as = Eli as the constitutional
status of the Lords, are figuring. The
four iaCss rf South Africa completed
their as ,v Vast reforms were promul-
gated 20. including the admission
of M natives 70 the Council,
Though ~ same moment seditious
Indians Committed several murders and
ether 9,..re res in a vain effort to balk
the reforms ard - rouse aroCher Mutiny.
Germany had Chancellor crisis over the
budget while franchise reforms i'll sew
eral states resulted in increased Social
nemocra tic parliamentary representation.
Greece struggled with a military dicta-
forslip which dominated the Boule and
. ministry and nenacad the crown. Italy
had ministerial crisis over fiscal mat
tiers. and also an election in which Cler-
icals took part more freely than before.
France had busy year, with an attempt
through a universal strike TO make the
Republic subordir3t re 50 the labor unions,
the sudden TesfgE ton az the Prime Min
lister in his hour az tri,.nr5, renewal Of
friction betweaF3 ChGrna aud State over
the schools, the Stninhe.l murder trial
and consequent rev ,eion IF the code of
procedure and parliamentary considera
ton of income taxation. old age pen
sons, tariff reform and similar matters.
Belgium lost her King by death and in
stalled his successor. Spain suffered seri-
Gus seditious and Socialist riots, marked
by gross excuses, after which she put
to death her foremost exponent Of pbilo-
sophie anarchy and atheism. Sweden,
like France, had a futile universal
strike Of Socialist origin. Portugal had
Cabinet crisis. The suffragette agita-
ton in Great Britain was pushed to
scandalous extremes, while in Norway
woman suffrage was put into practice
without sensation. Japan continued con-
stitutiona reforms in Corea. despite the
murder of Prince Ito. Newfoundland OK
changed Sir Edward Bond fer Sir Eli
ward Norris as Prime Mlnfefp Mr
Gomez was auspiciously ;ust- Z as Tres
ident of Cuba, and tha government of
that island was again iutrusted TO it's
people. General Reyes resigned the pres
idency of Colombia. whi,a ne had held
with distinction and pui>ii profit, and
Mr.. Zelaya, after a despoti- and corrupt
rule. was driven to resign the presidency
of Nicaragua in the face of a revolution.
Noteworthy steps toward the settle
ment of disputes were taken by Great
Britain and the United States concern
ing the old fisheries and boundary water
ways controversies. A tripartite conven-
ton was made among the United States
Panama and Colombia, which the last
named failed to ratify. Turkey, Austria
and Servia came TO agreement over the
Bosnia Herzegovina business. France and
Germany submitted their Morocco dis
pute to The Hague. with happy results.
Chill and Peru still wrangled, but Bo-
livia and Peru adjusted serious Difficult
ties after arbitration by Argentina had
failed Practically all issues between
Venezuela and the United States were
disposed Of. Negotiations between China
and Russia and between China and Japan
over Manchurian affairs proceeded salts
factorily. The principle of the open door
I'm China for American capital was estab-
lished after vigorous action by our State
Department and diplomats. Good re-
suits were secured from an anti-opium
conference of the powers at Shanghai at
the initiative Of the United States Spain
bad to wage a war in the Riff 10 vindl-
cate her rights against Moroccan periidy
Great Britain rectified her boundaries
and relations with Siam by taking for n
consideration, three small Malayan states.
The promotion and copfrma ton Of in
ternational friendships were largely Of
fected through visits and special mis-
slens President Taft visited Panama
and had a meeting with President piaz
Oh the Mexican border. The understand.