FOREIGN NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 12

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE AND MOROCCO. Paris, September 25. What is probably the most significant articlo on tho Moorish question published today appears in tho "Journal" of this morning. Tho "Journal" is a non-political nowspsper, with a largo circulation among all classes,_ and its well-known independence of itself gives tho article a certain importance. Tho Act of Algeciras here finds an ardent and valuablo dofonder. ' Thoso who believe that the diaembarkment of troops jn the principal ports is necessary, and will provido the solution to tho muddlo, aro aslcod very i pointedly whether they havo considered the international consequences. Tho recent German Note and the attitude of Spain aro hold up as ombious warnings, and wo aro very plainly told that Franco must not step ontside the provisions of j;ho Act of Algcciras, otherwise sho will create "a delicate situation at Berlin and Madrid." And tho same writer, while admitting that the organisation of a nativo polico is quito impossiblo, urges that an attempt should be made in order to give a conclusive proof, of this, and also a pretext for another line of action.

This policy of "Watch Berlin I" might •have appeared humiliating ' at other times, but to-day it finds increasing favour, and both Ministerial and Opposition newspapers now place the observance of tho Act of Aigeciras as tho first, and the defence of French rights and commercial interests as the second consideration which the Quai d'Orsay must havo in mind. There is_ a good deal of hope that tho reciprocal opinions of Franco and Spain will soon bo brought into groater harmony after tho interview which M. Pichon has had to-day at Bordeaux with M. Revoil, tho French Ambassador at Madrid. At tho samo time, somo writers still exist who wish to make all understanding impossible, and the "Humanito," pursuing its anti-patriotic policy, publishes an articlo today asking tho Government to improve the fortifications on tho Franco-Spanish frontier, and to'regard the Spanish army in just the samo spirit as the army of "the spiked helmets." While tho diplomatists aro lost iti discussion, the Fronch War Office and the Ministry of Marino aro taking action to prepare for tho winter in Morocco. Paris, October 2. Sid Mahomed Tazzi, the Minister of Finance of Morocco, has arrived hero to borrow money for tho Sultan, bringing with him the Crown jewels as security. The " Temps " this ovoning gives his declarations, which, in brief, amount to an insistence on tho fact that his master, ■ Abd-el-Aziz, and not Mulai Hafid, is the friend of Franco. He points out that the Sultan is a more intelligent man than tho Pretender, whom ho endues with pro-German predilootions. It is, therefore, to tho interests of Franco, ho argues, to givo financial aid to the true Sultan.

Meanwhile, tho subjugated tribes have clamoured for. French protection against bullying tribes situated further inland, and General Drudo has promised to givo it. As tho nowspaper correspondents point out, even tho partial fulfilment of tho . promise foreshadows danger. '

Much as the Government wishes to restrain military operations, it will very possibly bo compelled, as many a Government was when France was occupied with Algeria, to go much further than it wished. The conquest of Algeria was necessitated; By a sequence of such ovents. The newspapers,. whilo praising the Government resolution concerning contraband, point out the difficulties which provont the realisation of the ideal of complete suppression. The surest way would bo to stop cargoes before they sail from European ports, but it is not likely that tho Powors will trouble much in this way. Meanwhile,, tho system by which the smugglers send two unladen vessels to each ■ smuggler will cost France dear, for she will have to pay indemnities for the seizure of tho ostensibly innocent vessels, which will more than compensate for the indemnities exacted in cases in which real smugglers aro caught.

~ hague conference Result. Paris, September 25. Those British politicians who promised great things of tho Peaco ,Congress at Tho 'Hague'can scarcely havo foreseen one of tho advantages which this apparently futile mooting is said to have brought "to their country. ' This advantage, a direct consoquenco of the Congress, is tho greater friendship with Turkey. Those who think to understand the Balkan question by'reading blue-books iin an armchair at the club will no donbt deplore any improvement of diplomatic relations, and tho improvement of British commerces with Turkey is scarcely likely to sugar their pill. But it is worth whilo noting that several French authorities on tho Macedonian question havo stated that tho English enthusiasts could never have their reforms carried out unless the British Ambassador was able to go boforo tho Sultan armed with a strong friendship and unchallenged prestige. Unfortunately it cannot bo said that British prestigo at Constantinople has boen unchallenged of late.

An indefatigablo and subtle diplomatist, Baron Marsehall von Bieberstcin has contrived that Germany should receive many sugar plums in the way of orders for guns, railway concessions, and what not, and British traders have itched at seeing their profits stationary or , declining. However, if wo aro to bolicvo a writer in tho "Sieclo, it is Great Britain now that leads thodanco. Before leaving Constantinople for The Hague, Baron Marschall von Bieberstein omitted to see that a great hurt to Turkish pride—her inclusion among tho secondary Powers convoked to the congress —was romoved. This, coming after a decoptibn by Germany—withdrawing her support in tho Tabah affair when things became serious—sufficed to change tho Sultan's attitude. Admiral Sir Charles Drury and the officers of tho Mediterranean Fleet were recently received by tho Sultan in a way which clearly signalised tho change. All precedents in tho matter of etiquettes wore set aside, and the party wore received with tho ceremonial heretofore reserved to Princes of tho Blood; and, in spite of tho activity •of the Gorman Charge d'Affaires, a much hotter timo for British merchants and financiers is promised. RETIREMENT OF DREYFUS. Paris, September 25. Among the military appointments gazetted in tho Officiel" to-day is the nomination of Commandant Qnerneau, who has hitherto been stationed with tho Artillery Regiment at Albortville, to take command of the artillery posted it St. Denis, in succession to Commandant Droyfus. Commandant Querneau holds the post only temporarily, while Commandant Dussor, the real successor t6 tho command, fills a post in Dahomey. Aβ for Commandant Dreyfus, ho has been put on the retired list.

There is no cause for surprise in this action, for those who knew tho one-time prisoner of the Ho du Diablo iroll knew how the years of torturo had worn both mind and body;_ and when tho victim of so much political intrigue and injustice was reinstated, it was' commonly asked how long ho would think sufficient to vindicate his right to sorve under tho Tricolour. What service he has undergono has been anything but continuous, and at last tho historical figure who would capitulate to the dictates of no temporal power, has given way before tho laws of health, and has asked to bo placed on tho retired list. ' / FRANCE AND GERMANY. Paris, October 3. A romarkablo article, nearly three columns in length, appears to-day in tho "Depeche Colonialo, on the relations between France and Germany. The article is moro remarlcablo from appearing in tho pages of an organ of tho Colonial party than from any particularly original stntomonts or oppressions of opinion, It is impossible to giro moro than the substance or the writer's ideas, which are developed at too great length for full production, and may bo summed up as follows: —First, it cannot bo forgotten, either by Germany or Franco, that the question of Alsaccs-Lorraino is still opon, and until it is sottled nothing moro or better than partial ontentes on particular subjects can over bo concluded botweon tho two great nations. But why ( ho asks, cannot Franco and Germany, which havo so many points of sympathetic, contact,' by concluding such

partial ententes, arrive at creating a general detente," so very desirable and so evidently desired by Germany? So far the writer appears hopeful and encouraging, but from this point onwards, in rather enigmatic fashion, ho proceeds to show how oxtreniely difficult'it is for anybody, and most of all for Franco,' to tall iu with Germany's exaggerated ideas of her own preseriptivo right to impose her will on tbo world. H o sketches the growth of German unity and tho victory over France ™ch was needed to consolidate it, but which _ left the new Gormany with an insatiable desire for power," which in turn led her to compote with and offend overy other nation. First was tho Bismarck period of feverish building up and strengthening, thon came the personal Kaiser period, with its new watchword, "Our futuro is on tho sea." And. last, the isolation years, with every Power outside Germany concluding alliances and understandings inter se, leaving the once dominant Triple Alliance in severe neglect aside'. These entontes wore only tho natural consequences of the Gorman expression, "tirbi et orbi," of tho will to rule. Reasonable and natural as this will or determination may appear to tho Germans themselves, it cannot, says the writor, be expected to meet with much sympathy elsewhere.

Ho concludes by stating that the rp much to bo desired improvement of relations calls for real concessions on both sides. France has recently given such manifest proofs of her desire to hvo on good terms with everybody that she cannot, with respect to her own dignity, go any further. If Germany will do as much on her side, it ought to bo easy to "avpid many conflicts, and so contributo to tho peace of the world."

GERMAN NAVAL BASE. Berlin, October 2. It is announced on good authority that in the near future tho port of Wilhelmshaven will become the' headquarters of tho German Navy instead of Kiel, which is regarded as oeinp; too remote from those waters in which tho German fleet would necessarily operate in the ovont of war. Now docks are being constructed with all possible rapidity at Wilhelmshaven, and other necessary preparations aro being made to ' provide accommodation for Germany's greatest warships at this port. Those preparations will be completed by the end of 1908, and Wilhelmshaven will become the principal base of the German Navy early in 1909. The German Dreadnoughts, two of which will be completed by that time, iwill bo assigned to Wilhclmshaven as their home port, as well as the other, most powerful battleships-of the German fleet. Without drawing any alarmist conclusions, it is obvious that the removal of the German fleot from Kiel to Wilhelmshaven will alter tho balance of naval power in tho North Sea. Tho distance from- Wilhelmshaven to the east coast of England is 300 miles. It will be remembered that there was a great outcry in Germany when tho British Admiralty first announced its intention of establishing a naval base at Rosyth, in Scotland, on the ground that the choice of this port for| such a purpose constituted an epen menace to Germany.

ANGLO-GERMAN TB-ADE. Berlin, October 2. The Government will introduce a bill in the Reichstag conferring power on the Bundesrath to grant Great Britain and her Colonies the most favoured nation treatment for a further period of two or more years. The provisional arrangement concluded in December, 1905, expires on the last day of this year, so that a new settlement of the relations between England and Germany becomes necessary. By utilising the power conferred by the Act ■ of. December, 1905, the Buudesrath conceded the most favoured nation treatment to Great Britain and all her Colonies, with tho single exception of Canada, which at that time was already engaged in a war of tariffs with the German Empire. After tho Bill which the Government js about to introduce has become law, which it will do before the end of the year, it is regarded as certain that the Bundesrath will except Australia as well as .Canada from the concession of the most'favoured nation treatment, _on the ground that the how Australian tariff is extremely injurious to German commercial interests. The German ConsulGeiieral in Sydney has already made representations to tho Government of the Australian Commonwealth regarding its new tariff, and hopes are entertained here that Germany will be able to conclude direct arrangements both with Australia and Canada for the regulation of their commercial relations. The German Consul at Montreal recently visited Berlin, to confer with tho Government here on the promotion of a commercial treaty between Germany and Canada. Germany -rail bring all possiblo pressure to boar on Australia and Canada to prevent those Colonies from' favouring the export trade of Great Britain at tho expense of that of Germany.! TENDER TO SUBMARINES. Berlin, October 1. A tender to the flotilla of submarines now boing constructed for the German navy was launched to-day at Kiel. She consists or two parallel hulls firmly bound together. Tho length of the double ship is 225 ft. The vessel is provided with powerful cranes capable of hoisting 500 tons from aeop water, i , ]f a submarine' manoeuvring beneath the surfaco of the water required assistance, it could be raised by these cranes and laid upon the network of steel connecting the two parts of the ship, which will also carry materials and appliances for affecting repairs. The new tender to the submarines will thus be a floating dock, whereon submarines can be repaired, or conveyed back to land. Sho will have a speed of twelve knots, and is expected to be comploted by the spring of next year. Other ships of the samo type will be constructed for the'purpose of avoiding the lamentablo disasters that have overtaken the submarines of other navies.

ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT. St. Petersburg, October 1. Tho tone of the newspaper comments on tho Anglo-Russian Agreement does not vary as the days pass. Tho "Novoo Vremya," in an article reviewing tho opinions expressed by tho German newspapers, emphasises the fact that the Russopnil and Anglophil journals are equally dissatisfied with the arrangement, which, it thinks, is explicable by the circumstance that it is Germany's traditional policy to oncourage Anglo-Russian rivalry m order to bring about war between the two Powers in Central Asia.

The "Novoo Vreraya" observes that the German Press sedulously avoids mentioning what the French commentators have regarded as tho moat significant fact, namely, that the political situation permitted of any agreement at all. Ostrichlike, says fho Russian newspaper, tho German journals pretend to overlook the consequonccs which may result in Europe from this agreement between two great rowers. MACEDONIAN TROUBLE. ' St. Petersburg, October 1. Tho action taken by tho Russian and Aus-tro-Hiingarian Governments in connection with the increasing activity of tho various bands in Macedonia forms a subject of interested comment -in political circles here.. M. Izvolsky, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Baron von Aehrenthal, " tne Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, have availed themselves nioro quickly than had been anticipated of tho freedom of action conforred on thom by tho recont arrangemonts concluded at Swinomundo, Wilhelmshoho, and Ischl. Both tho "Russ" and the "Slovo" rather wonder that tho rebuke should havo been addrossed to Macedonia's three noighbours instead of to Greece alono, but they reflect that probably the Servian bands are littlo hotter than tho Greek. Athens, Octobor 1. Tlio following semi-official statement was issued hero last evening:— "Tho representatives of Russia and Aus-tria-Hungary to-day handed to M. Skouzes, Groek Minister for Foreign Affairs, a .Note, which has also beon forwarded to tho Governments of tile other Balkan States, on tho subject of Macedonia., It declares that Avticlq 3 of tho Mum-teg programme having given rise to falso interpretations m tho countrioa interested, tho two Governmnnts consider it their duty to inform the Governments and peoples of tho Balkan States that tho projected territorial delimitation of the administrative units of Macedonia with a view to the nioro regular grouping of tho various Macedonian nationalities can by N no means take into account tho so-.,

called 'national changes' which the terrorist action of the Macedonian bands may nave provoked in the past, or may provoke in the future. "This delimitation, the object of which' was misunderstood in the Balkans, will. be based on tho principles of the status quo ante, and on serious and independent investigations made on the spot with tho consont of the Powers. The Note invites the Balkan Governments to follow the suggestions and advice of Europe, and to exert themselves to put an end to any assistance which the bands may receive from theic respective compatriots." MURDERED IN PRISON. Semlln, September 30. Captain Novakbvics, it appears: as Hhe result of examination, was murdered in hia cell at Belgrade yesterday' morning after torture and bribery had failed to procure his promise to stop his exposure of the regicides. The dotails I telegraphed yesterday of the shots from his window are tho sequel of a remarkable prison mystery. The captain, who belonged to a family closely connected with tho Earagoorgovitch' dynasty, was, until tho murder of King Alexander, a fervent supporter of King Peter. Whether he suspected the latter ol being involved in the crimo is not known, but he organised a widespread plot among officers for bringing the regicides before a court-martial. Tho plot was betrayed by a traitor when success seemed near, and »» regicide court-martial sentenced Captain Novakovics to two years in prison. Tw« attempts woro mado to poison him daring this period, but both failed. He left the prison alive, but with health permanently shaken.

His first act was to start a daily paper, "Za Otadjbinu," in which ho violently attacked the regicides, and also King Peter,whom he in more or loss open language accused of being tho instigator of the. murder of King Alexander. One night his printing machinory was seized by the police, and the absurd charge was later tramped up that ho had stolen three screws from his owfi machinery, which had been sold by auction by tho police. ' v . Early in Soptember ho was imprisoned in an underground, damp, and loathsome dungeon with tho worst criminals in the land. Twenty-five days of torture were unablo to break his spirit. Ho was then moved into a room in tho prison, over-look-ing tho street, the windows being' protected by iron bars.

Hero every attempt was made to proeur* his silence. Ho was offered a lnrgo fortune, perfect liberty, and anything he wished- ho was menaced and tortured; hub all without success. Captain . Novakovics remained firm, and when the commander 06 Belgrade made him theso offers ho merely, replied, "You are unworthy of your uiiiform." ' '

On Sunday morning, it now appears, hie coll was entered by a number of men, who began to beat,him with sand-bags. His' cries were heard in the square outeide the prison. His assassins, thought it prudent to despatch their viotim by a volley of rifle shots, which gave tho impression that the victim himself had managed to secure a gun, and had then committed suicide. . , ° . ,*, ■• ''' Tho captain married a few months be< foro hjs imprisonment, and his young; Wifa, expecting to become a mother, is left with heavy debts, contracted for the cause whieb cost her husband his life., , ~ \ JAP-AMERICAN WAR SCARE." , .. New York, September 30. Tho approaching departure of the Ameii can fleet to the Pacific continues to occasioj keen discussion concerning the l purpose whicll is really behind the Presidential decision in this matter. Yesterday the "New Yorl Sun" published a loader in which it rouhdlj declared its refusal to credit the official explanation that ■ the step is for purposes, of practice. The newspaper 1 added that it shared the Japanese, belief, "that this explanation is false." "■ Proceeding in this veip the \ • "The navy is going to the Pacific Ocean for war with Japan, and Japan recognises the fact and is energetically preparing for it. Once the operation of transferring our snips to Pacific waters has been accomplished war is inevitable. It is an insane project, 'i'he American peoplo do not want to go to war with Japan or with any other country, but the American peoplo arc apparently without recourse or voice. There is little or.no hope that Congress will dare to oppose the Presi* dent's plans. It is one of the most serious situations- that have . confronted this country." ... •-,■■■ To-day the newspaper follows, ub its ati tack by the declaration that Mr. Roosevelt "means the country to go to war." It finde, however,' no seconder among its. contemporaries, with the exception of quasi - approval from the "New York World,!' which all along has supposed that this was the real object of the tieet'e voyage. The "Sun's" attitudeis in consonance with that newspaper's anti-Administration tradition; The only real notice taken of the leaders I have quoted from is a gibe in the "New York Globo" at those "afflictediwitlj Roosavoltphobia." Meanw,hile, Mr. Roosevelt, reached Canton (Ohio) to-day, where he will dedicate the McKinley Mausoleum; This is the opening of the Presidential autumn tour.. The move* ment for his third nomination to office, which is gaining strength in some quarters, troubles both Mr. Roosevelt's friends an J foes. His present tour will take him into localities which are known to- be favours.blo to him. Very many office holders would.be only too glad that he should be elected for a third term, and they are doing all they can to foster the movement. But Mr.. Roqsevclt's personal friends and members of his family, like Mr. Nicholas Longworth. his son-in-law,> insist that he stands pledged against such a course, and that he has no intention of receding, from that, position. Tho President himself remains eilent. AMERICAN NAVY. '. : , St., Louis,' , ' October 2. President Roosoyolt, in the, course of hie speech at St. Louis, thus made reference to tno United States Navy:— ' '•' ' "The Navy is>not primarily of importance only to tho coast regions. It is the concern of every good American who knows what the meaning of the word./patriotism' is. This country ,is definitely committed to certaia fundamental' policies—to tho Monroe doctrine, for instance,and to tho duty not only of building, but, when it is built, of policing and dofonding tho Panama C&nal.. we havo definitely taken our place among tho great World Powers, and it would bo a sign of ignobld weakness, haying takon such a place,; to shirk its responsibilities. "Thoreforo, unless wo are willing to aban* don this place, to abandon our insietonct upon the Monroe doctrine, to give up tht Panama Canal, and to bo content to acknowledge ourselves a weak and timid nation, we must steadily build up and maintain a groat . fighting navy. Our navy is already so efficient as to bo a matter of just prido to every American. So long as our navy is no larger than at present, it must bo considered as an olementary principlo that the bulk of our battle fleet must always bo kept together. When tho Panama Canal is built it cau be transferred without difficulty from one part of our coast to tlio other; but even before that canal is built it ought to be transferred to and fro from time to time In a conplo of months our fleet of, groat armoured ships starts for the Pacific. ■ ''California, Oregon and Washington have a coast line which is ours just asvqmphatically as\ tho coast line of Now York and Maine, of Louisiana and Texas. Our flcot is going to its own home waters in the Pacific, and after a stay there it will return to its own home waters in tho Atlantic The host pl.ico for a naval officer to learn his duties is Kt sos by performing them, and only by actually putting through' a voyage of this nature—a vojiigo longer than any over boforo undertaken by so largo » fleet of any nation—can wo find out just exactly what is necessary for us to know as to our naval neods, and practise our ofßccre and enlisted men in the highest duties of thoir profession. Among all our citizens tliero is no body of equal sizo to whom wo owo quite so much as to tho officers and onlistod men of tho army and navy of tho United Stales, and I bespeak from you tho fullest and heartiest support, in tho name of our nation and of ,our flag, for the services- to which tha=o mp.n holono." •