Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
Foreign Political Activity.

After several months Of discussion
Premier Bordens naval bill, which pro-
posed contribution to the British navy
Of three dreadnoughts, to cost $50 OOO, OOo
was rejected by the Canadian senate
Sir Wilfrid Laurier. ex-premier and pres
ent leader of the opposition, was instru-
mental in the defeat of this measure. A
number of changes in the Canadian tariff
were made, and a parcel post bin was
passed.
Gen. Mario Menocal. third president of
CUBA. was inaugurated May 20. In
August there was new Castro at
tempt TO regain power in Venezuela,
but 1t was suppressed by President
Gomez, who had been given dictatorial
powers Two United States cruisers
were ordered to Venezuelan waters 10
protect American interests. Other
political and revolutionary movements
in Latin America have been unimpor-
tant.
January 10, after a debate which had
lasted nearly two months. the British
house or commons passed the home
stage Immediately after it's passage in
the commons the bill was sent to the
house OF lords. where it was debated
tor four days and then rejected. 1t then
went back to the commons. In order
to become law III spite of it's rejec-
ton by the lords it must be passed three
times by the commons with important
amendment. bill thus passed will
receive the royal assent despite the
lords veto. 1t has already been passed
twice BY the commons. and upon its
third passage, next year, 1T will become
a law.
January II Raymond Poincare. who
had been premier, of France was
elected ninth president of the republic
As premier he displayed a strong, dis
tinctive personality and kept France in
! the center of the European stage. He is
regarded by his countrynen as the most
capable national leader since Gambetta.
and he has already disproved the famous
French political saying that while the
King OF ENGLAND reigils he does rule
and the President OF the United States
rules, but does not reign, the French
president neither rules nor reigns" In
MS HrsL message ~ parliament presi-
dent PoincaIe emphasized lie Necessity
for adding materially to Frances mill
Lary force This had the effect Of in
creasln6 the peace footing OF the French
army 30 per cent.
Political events III Germany during the
year point to the fact that the demands
OF increasing militarism are becoming
more and more burdensome. January
10, Tor the 1irst time In its history the
reichstag refused To pass d vote of con-
lidence III the government. III March the
bonds of the new Prussian and imperial
| loans to provide the sinews OF war and
TO Increase the peace footing % the Ger
man army to 10000 men We're offered 10
the public The amount immedia tely asked
Tor was S131, ,yOO,u,st. In addition to this
S2JO,OoDCuU was demanded for armament
purposes. There has been u great deal
OF sru,nbling i'll the German press over
this drain on the enpire's resources and
the new army increase. and the conse
uuent Indebtedness greatly depressed bust
ness and lowered prices on the bourse.
An event OF considerable political sig
niiicance was the marriage, May -, of
! the German emperor's only daughter.
Princess Victoria Luise. to Prince Ernest
of Cumberland. This marriage ended the
long quarrel between the Guelphs and
Hohenzolierns. which was caused in 1856
by the absorption of Hanover by Prussia,
after the former had aided Austria. This
marriage resulted also in a more or less
Germany and England. In June the
kaiser celebrated the twepty-iifth ami
versary of his accession TO the throne.
Berlin was in holiday attire for a week
court were present at the dedication of
the new Olympic stadium, said to be the
finest in the world. in which the Olympic
games OF 1916 Will be conducted.
March Il Prince Constantine of Greece
was crowned king OF the Hellenes. in
succession to his father. George l, who
was assassinated by half-insane fanatic
three days earlier. The slain monarch
who was Dane. other Of Dowager
Queen Alexandra OF England. was i'm
ported from Denmark in 1868 to rule the
Greeks He was of the moving
spirits in the formation of the Balkan
league and the movement against Turkey,
but he was always regarded for
eigner by his people. The new monarch
is forty-five years of age, a soldier by
profession but by choice a man of peace
In May King Alfonso of Spain visited
Paris and was received with such cord al
ity by the government officials that the
report of a Franco-Spanish alliance
created diversion at all the chancel-
leries Of Europe. The two governments
have come to complete understanding
about their respective interests in Moroc-
co and the restoration OF Spanish pres
i tige in North Africa. Shortly before
leaving for Paris, King Alfonso was
attacked by an anarchist III Madrid ana
| narrowly escaped death The incident
| served to demonstrate his great popular
| ity.
October q. at Picking, after three ballots
| had been east for twenty different candi-
| dates, the national assembly of the new
| republic of China elected Yuan Shih-kai,
/ who had been provisional president for
| some time. to serve as president for n
| term of five years. A new constitution
| has also been formulated on American
| and British models. Immediately after
| the election the representatives of the
| powers at Picking sent notes to the new
president formally recognizing the re-