FOREIGN NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 104, 25 January 1908, Page 12

FOREIGN NEWS.

ANGLO-GERMAN DISPUTE. \ Hamburg, December 11. It is Stated that a warehouse belonging to tho Hamburg firnv , of Wonekhaus, and situated on tho island of Abu Musa, in the Persian Gulf, has been Confiscated by the commander of the British warship Lapwing 011 the ground that it contained contraband goods. The Hamburg firm has Called upon tho German Foifeign Office to tako energetic stops for the recovery of damages.,

Tho firm issues a iengthy statement, in' which it brands as ridiculous tho assertion that t'ne confiscated building held contraband, and alleges that tho action of the British commander had lio other object than to checkmate a successful German commercial enterprise, his real object being, to transfer the oxido business which' the Hamburg firm was conducting to British hands and to rob tho Hamburg-American, Line of a profitable' freight traffic,

The statement further declares that the Lapwing brought aft Arabian sheikh to the island of Abn Alusa, aiid that after tho German firm's coolies had boeii driveil back to tho Persian .mainland the sheikh prohibited the Germans from further working the oxide mines, although they had a contract for that purpose..- The sheikh then fired upon tho German firm's representative. Commenting upon the -affair- the leading Hamburg journal says, "Tho British procedure is an 'act of, violence of the worst kind and an Outrageous breach of tho law, which constitutes the sharpest Contrast to the assiduous assurances of friendship of the. British Press. must insist that the German Foreign Office shall tako strong measures."

. J ' " ' Berlin, December 12. The Conservative "Deutsche Tageszeitung,'' referring to tho incident iri tho- Persian Gulf, says:—"Wo Gefilians must ask tho following questions: 'Did tho- 'Captain' of tllo Bi'itish warship really' confiscate Gorman property? If so, by what, right did ho' afit in this .way?' There-can be rto coiltrabartd of war ill tinlis of peaCe, and British warships liavo no right to exerciso judicial authority ill'disputes■ in Persia." In regard to tho statement made in Londdii that th'dfo can bo nd question of diplomatic action, such a remark is crttireiy beside tho mark. Tho Gorman Foreign Ofiico cannot, possibly havo mado any statement to this effect. becaiisd_ it hiisrepresbnts tho facts. Tho truth is, as ' telegraphed last night oh the highest official authority, tho Government hd.ro aro waiting full partioiil.ifs of the affair beforo they decido whether diplomatic action-shall bo taken. '

_ x . Paris, December 12. Tho action of Germany in Asia Minor, and her systematic and most persistent endeavours to work her way on to tho Persian Gulf, in spito of and without coming to any preliminary agreement with Great Britain, have more than onco boon tho subject of criticism in Paris. Should an attempt bo made in tho traditional way to stir up difficulties in conncction with the -confiscation of tho contraband cargo at Abu MiisA, any action taken by Great Britain will most certainly meet with coniploto approval here, and, after the decent agreement with Russia, at ot. Petersburg also. REVOLUTIONARY MACEDONIA. ~ Sofia, December 12. ihe woll-known revolutionary chiefs, Jjoris Sarafoff and Garvnnoff, wore shot dead last night by a Macedonian. Tho double murder was committed at tho moment when Garvanoff was leaving Boris Sarafoff's house, ouspicion has fallen upon'-' a man nanied 1 anitza of having been tho assassin. Ho is a miphow of tlio notorious Major Panitza, who was shot in-1890 for conspiracy, with fourteen othors, to overthrow tho-Govern-ment rind assassinate Princo Ferdinand and his Ministers. Tho' police have up to . the present failed to arrest Panitza. Well informed persons attribnto tho crime to the dissensions existing between Boris Sarafoff and his comrades regarding tho employment of the money intolided for . tho Macedonian cause. ' The Government. will probably proceed to\arresfc all the chiefs of the Macedonian committees.

ROOSEVELT'S RENUNCIATION,

_ New York, December 11. Mr. Roosovolt lias suddenly abandoned his gamo of hido r and-seelt with the nation for tho Presidential.nomination. At tho moment when tho agitation, fomented by ofiiceholdors, sycophants, and political intriguers, to call him to tho Presidency for a third term is making gigantic strides,. especially m tho south, he lias rushed beforo tho footlights with a dramatic reiteration of his declaration issued three years ago on tho morrow of his re-election, that in no circumstances will ho servo another term. Iho elfcct of his proclamation has been similar to that of a stone cast in tho midst or a beehive. . Tho entire country is buzzing to-day,.with excited rumnnrs and discussions regarding tho motives of'his action. ' Never probably in tho history of America has any man been assailed by so potent a ternptaii? - as . which Mr. Roosevelt has now definitely repelled. Daily was ho confronted by friends' and schomers m all parts of tho country with insidious arguments in favour of a third term. He wai told that tho entire nation was clamouring for his re-election; that lie could not refuse a unanimous nomination: and that, if ho did refuso, tho Republican. Party would fall irretrievably under. tho influence of dishonest malefactors,' who would make short shrift of his policies.. oomo months ago, it is belioVed, tho President did actually begin to waver." But since tho financial panic events havo moved swiftly, forcing him to tho conclusion that, though his popularity is still very great, ho could'not count, oil a unanimous nomination. Tho President' sap that his name was, being used by falso frionds for tho purposes of intriguing against tho nomination of a candidato who would support his policies. Ho has scotched theso intrigues by abandoning tho game of hide-and-seek, but In ,, so r " o .ing and in definitely removing him,m the field ho has destroyed his ability to wield tho "big stick" over Congress during the remaining year of his Presidency. Tho Situation (says tho "Standard's" correspondent) is now absolutely chaotic. Jivoii experienced politicians with whom I have conversed to-day affirm that it is impossible to foretell it day ahead what will happen. there is a "boom" in fav- ™ Governor Hughes, of New York, the Republican nominee. In a fow days Air. Jaft, tho War Secrotary, Will return from ins travels to measure Swords With Senator Foraker, Mr. Cortolyou, Secretary °> t'lo Treasury, and others of tho party.. • ni • i • c '?,' ms are bitterly disputed oven in Ohio, his State. The Dcniocratio Party considors that its prospects are vastly improved by tho removal.of Mr. Roosevelt, who really was a Democrat. AUSTRIA. m , , Vienna, December 11. Tho adoption of the Ausgleich by both tho Austrian and Hungarian Parliaments has now been assured, but only by skilful parliamentary manoeuvres on the part of both Governments. In Budapest tbo Croatian obstruction was defeated by the introduction of a bill, virtually in one paragraph, authorising tlio adoption of tho Ausgleich as a whole; in Vienna it wns carried through aS a motion of urgency. Tlio passago of ,tho measure in tho, ordinary way beforo tlio end of the year was otherwise impossible, in face of tho obstruction which was threatened. A GARIBALDI QUARREL. Rome, December 11, Tho qu.arrol between General lticciotti Garibaldi and his stepmother and her daughter over tho proprietorship of Garibaldi's tomb in Capiera is assuming tho character of a national scandal. Garibaldi's widow has asked for tho intervention of troops to prevent General Ricciotti Garibaldi landing in Cnprera and entering his father's house, whilst her daughter Clclia has published a violent protest against Ricciotti, stating that ho intends to take possession of the hero's body and to carry it to Romo, against Garibaldi's last wishes. Soveral authoritative Caribaldian leaders have urged tho Government to put a stop to tho scandal by taking

possession of the island; according to the bill voted'by Parliament, as otherwise tlio Garibaldian veterans will form an expedition for the purpose of occupying tho island.. ■•-.• , SIGNOR NASI'S TRIAL. Rome, December 11. Signor Nasi's , trial seems: to ,bo taking a new turn. Thanks pardy to the firmness of the new President of the High Court, Sena-, tor Manfredi,-a man of lifelong judicihl.;.exporionco, Nasi, lias agreed to havo Ojily one lawyer, and ho has selected Signor Muratori, a well-known .Florentine counsel.. . : At tho samo time Nasi Urges .that his'trial bo concluded in tho speediest way possible, as lie iq desirous to end bis present state Or linoortaihty. ft is generally believed that tho issuo of tho case .Will bo narrowed to asking •Nasi' to prove that.tho.unaccounted .for stir'! plus during his administration as Minister, of iiducation was ; really used- for State purposes,'although not contemplated by Parliament when; granting the appropriation, in which case he would not bo condemned for peculation, but would merely be'blamed as a faulty administrator. - .1, .

BELGIUM AND .THE CONGO. Brusaclsi December 11. 1 The annexes to the Bill for the taking'over of tho Congo' by Belgium; wero. published, to*' day. : Thoy are. very voluminous,! and aro divided, into i four categories. : : '• Tho most important of.the annexes is; that containing tho report of the Belgian Commissioners. ,The report covers 70 pages and. is divided .into four chapters. In the first qliapter tllo economic condition of tho Free Stato is .examined from the point of; view Of the railway concessions, proprietary ■ companies, and companies holding concessions, while the seoond: chapter-, is devoted to tho State's, international position; Tho financial situation and -fcli6 Budget aro dealt with in thcS- third chapter,, and the fourth contains an exposo of tho' "Foundation" system,' special -regard being paid to the foundations of the Crown. The'''conolusion of the ■ Belgian representatives is that tho position of the Congo Freo State is defined by an "ensemble'', of' diploma'tip conventions, tho loyal carrying out of tho terms of which' by nil parties conoerned oxcludes the possibility of a conflict. The,liabilities of tho Congo are declared to bo covered Iby assets which can be realised inline* diately, so that Belgium can at ; oiico enter into possession of the State without' incurring any liability. The Budgetary system of, tho Congo is described as being no-.less ,reassuring, the equilibrium of tho Budget being preserved. . '. "fho Congo authorities, 1 ' tho report adds, "have acted within theirrlegal rights'of proprietorship in direotly exploiting the territory of tho State, in granting regies, and. in "giving concessions subject to a'division of profits." ' ■ .•>•■ -. •

'GERMAN COLONrXL SCANDAL. Berlin, December 11. The Imperial Disciplinary Chamber for tho German - Protectorates hliard -to-day the. appeal of Hcrr Horn, ex-Governor of Togo, who, in May last,, was sentenced to dismissal from tho service, with two-thirds of his legal pension for life, ,for infraction of the Imperial Officials Law. When Horn was on a tour of inspection iu Togo, in 1903, tho treasury at tho station of Sokodo was rifled, and £30 waß stolon. Suspicion fell -on a native called Zedui, artd lie, being arrested, confessed to tho offence, after at first denying it. Ho adhaving buried'tHo money..near tlio station; A search Was made and £9 was recovered. -The next day Zodu'was summarily sentenced to fivo .years' arfest ; in chains, and 23 strokes twice.

After ho had received his first.2s strokes, Horn ordered him to bo tied.to a flagstaff. His arms and legs Aybro bent backwards and fastened together with' iron chains.. Tho foot wero held together by two, heavy iron rings, Zodu screamed without cessation, crying that ho could not bear tho pain: To bo sot free ho said bo would show them where tho. rest of tho monoy was; but a search at tho spot indicated was fruitless and tho nativo was mado fast, again.' Ho again said he would confess, and.was taken down again', but with equally onipty results. Ho was chained up again and left for 24 hours in the fierco sfin, and during this time was given nothing to oat or drink.

Next morning Herr Horn wont up to him and found him wholly exhausted, unablo'to litter a sound. Meeting the. commander of tho station shortly after, Horn said, "I don't lilto the looks of Zedu; take him down and put him iii prison; ',bnt lot' niri get out of .tho station first." Horn left shortly'afterwards, accompaniod by the commander, who tool; him a part : of tho way. Tho commander returned a few hours later 'find found Zedu almost unconscious. Tho. mill was taken' down and died soOn after.

Horn was tried beforo the Lome Disti-ict Court and acquitted, tho bench declaring it was not proven .that he was aware of tho illegality of his proceeding.. The Upper Court at Duala, however, imposed a fino of £36 or three months', imprisonment.,' As the result of this verdict Horn was deprived of his post and recalled to Germany, whore proceedings wero taken against him. To-day's action was tho result of tho appeal lodged by his counsel. Di\ von Gordon,,who conducted the prosecution in the Moltkc-Harden ease. '

Tlio Court read the erideneo given by tho commander of tho station at tho first inquiry. Ho, ivhilo justifying tho tying up of Zedu, 3aid ho did not approve the whole procedure,* because Zodu screamed with pam, while Horn, who stood on'the verandah listening, only said: "What an obstinato pig I" Another witness ' thought Zedii' oiily soreamcd when Europeans wero near. Horn denied that Zedu was hung from tho flagstaff; ho had..rather, ho said, crouched on tho ground. Ho (accused) was, at. tho time, unconscious of committing an olfeiicd. Tho scntonco of, tho Covjrt was postponod until J;ho 23rd in'st. \