BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS. SPECTATOR SUMMARY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue LXVII, 30 January 1904, Page 9

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS. SPECTATOR SUMMARY.

LONDON, 12th December. THE JAPANESE DIET. The opening of the Jupnnew Diet oil Thursday was marked by one of the most, .significant events in the modern history of Japan. The Emperor in person rlehvered tho Speech from tho Throne, containing guarded references to the present crisis. The Lower llouho unaiVunously voted a reply condemning tbt> Ministry in unequivocal (fcrms, and decliiring that though a frisis, of unparalleled importitnco hnd been reached in the nation's ileMiny, Ministevlal ine<isure.s were, quite inadequate to mc*t it, since their policy Ivin opportunist at home and c.aiel iihroad. "Consiilering which things wilh prufound solicitude, \so cnvnestly proy Ills Majesty to exeicuse hi.s enlighli'tied judgireiit thereon." It its regarded ;i» inevitable thnt the Lower H011&' will bo diwolved ftt once. Japan bus p.oved .111 apt pupil in constitutional method.s; but the truly remarkable thing in the incident is not the use for tho first lime of n particular modes of cenwire, but tho .spirit which inspires, tho nation in thi.% crisis of its dw>t,iny. The Kateum Cubinet has shown iW'lf eminently moderate and conciliator y ; but its attitude ha» rlwu'ly futleil to represent thnt of the Oannnwe peojile. Uu.«.sia must face the fact that if she tijjhtii Japan, she will light « nation only too inger to gel to grip.s ■with lu i r. The JapnuctK.- ;uc «>hxmiu.s to lntve the question settled, and if this ,settlein"iit is to be peaceful, it must come soon. THE KAISER'S HEALTH. The Tune* of Monday prints a long nnd decidedly encouraging 'duspalch from it.s Berlin correspondent on tho subject of the Knieer's health. It appears thnt "varioius ini-sjoonsible press agencies" havo

been indulging in speculations calculated to cause- disquietude, not only in Germany, but throughout tho world, minimWng tho roport« of the Kaieor's progress, and plncing g'.oomy constructions on his resolve to proceed to a Southern climate. After pointing out that the illn«w of exalted pcrwnnges always givea ris« to n quantity of irresponsible gossip — «N was shown in the aieo of King Edward—the correspondent quotes with approval a pasMige- from tho Suddcutscho CoiTespondenz, a now.^iaper which enjoys high ofliciitl inspiration, vindirating tlio accuracy of tho doctors' statement**. According to this semi-oflicial authority, the Kaiser's progress is none the, l«« satiii- 1 fuctory for being gradual ; the objection to his uMiig his voice, is a very natural and proper precaution ; and the question whether ho will \mdertnko the* journey to the. South or not hns boon left entirely lo hi* own derision. These views, 'T. he Time* correspondent adds, «re fully borno , out by information whlcK lmw renched him from other lourcis. "The anticipation' is therefore warranted that Xlis Majesty's [ health, in so far as it may htiva been affected by tho restraint and confinement I incidental to an ailment and an operation ! in thewwlves unattended by danger, in in a good way to wards completo reston\I (ion." Tso doubt one of the chief citvusen of the spiwiding of alarmi&t rumoujs, as the correspondent hiiit.«, i« tho inveterato 1 prejudice which still exists in certain circles against tho prolonged abse\ire of tho Sovereign from the country unless nccesMtateil by imperative considerations. GERMAN FINANCE. The GcrnYrin Impeiiul Finance Reform Bill was introduced in (lie Reichstag on Wednesday, and expounded in an ablo speech by the Secretary of State, Baron yon Stengel. Wo may notu that its introducer admitted thut it was chiefly dewgnetl to provide a basis for new taxation, since it was impossible to provide for recurring expenditure out of casual income. The Bill was strongly opposed by tli« Clerical Ceatre. chkfi\y oa tho

giound that, it took uw.iy .■my r>ufu-i\LMim of lm|V!i,il liiutih i' fiuiii t lto- Fi'dcnitod Slalom Or Si |t;u!!^r, v .t Biv.u'i.in nieiuhiT. who made tlu- chief Opposition appocli, con! ended th-/t fJvnii.iny h.ul lin'ii extiMvagant in her Imperial »'xp'>nditiiic>, mid that the truo vjiy to meet Iho I'manrial difliculty wn« (n ecollollll.su mill go slowly. Jlo doliwrod an Jitt4iclc on .•ivniy iulmini.sl rn lion, and triced all the evila of tho »Sl:ite to the maUii.ili.sm which ffn.i ilniniunting n;itii>mil life. There i.s httlo fwir but tli.il Ih- Hill will \\as-*. for tho ninjority of the (luni.m puopliarc nut prepare d to forego their oherLvli. Ed ambitioits even (o AO<:ure n.iUoaal »ulvency. A SOCIALIST CRITICISM. The sitting of (he ReiclusUig on Thuvsday wns by an amusing duel between Jlerr IK-bel, tho Socialist Ijender, and the Impernl C'h.'incellui 1 . Tiiking the now F'luii'e R funn Bill «i.s his text. Tli'rr Hclu 1 .lU-tcked the Imperial policy on thiw m'Dund.s — it was inspired by extn'Viiy.ml uk'<t.s of iniiilurisni atul cspanHion ; it did nolhiiitc to check tho aggressive policy of Jxiu.iiu; and, being bnncd on indirect (uxttlioii, it imposed di«proportionnlt! burdens upon tho poorer clnsftes. Count yon Bulom', in un oxeccdingly clever debating speech, pointed out that military retrenchment was inconsUyleut. with tho crusading and interfering policy « Inch ITo it Hebel apparently ivi&hcd Gcrnuiny to adopt towards Russia, in the Fur East. A* Imperial Chancellor, he declined to start a policy in Manchuria, with which llmnniiy had nothing to do. He then proceeded in a very able, and merciless p:i*.sago to expose the foibles of tho Social Democrats — their tyranny and intolerance, their lack of logic and com-inon-.sense. ''Bismarck onco .siiid that if there •were three dozen of them iv tho Rcich&tqg he would ask them to propose a practical scheme of policy. That wns twenty yeuret ngo. and thouph there were now more than six dozen of them in tho House, t.hsy hnd not yet forniulntcd an intelligible proßrammo of their ideal State." A« an aiiNAvcr to Hcrr Uebel tho

Imperial Chancellor's speech is irrefutable; but we question if it will improve his position. However bud a particular Socialist argument may be, thero in tho fact to bo remembered thnt tho party speaks for three million elector* who feel tho evil tjflfect of C4ermnny'« financial policy, and arc out of oympathy with Germany's Imperial ambitions. Where ihero is so much smoke, there must bo n great deal of fire. THE CRISIS IN HUNGARY. The Hungarian crisis lin& been ended by the action of the Independence party. At a conference held on Friday, tho 4th met., v resolution was adopted by 64 votes to 28 to tho effect that, in exchungo for the acceptance and declaration of certain national principles by tho Government, the Independence partywould abandon obstruction; and the decision was mtilied on the following dny in Parliament by till oxeh.-uigo of dfoiar.-ition^ betvveen M. Fnmcis Kukmulli and Lounti Stephen Tinui. Tho line- taken by M^. Kossuth mis thnt tho Independents might have carried their point with regard to the language question. in tho Army by force, but "forco would have been answeml by force, perhaps to the prejudice of tbo country." Uencc, without relinquishing Ibeir iiinis of jiii iiulepcnclcnt Ifuugiiry with an independent iluug.iriuu Army, they have lesolved to revert to normal constitutional inethudrt of Pailiajneiitary oppoaitjon. ami to abandon (ho revolutionary weapon of mechanical obstruction. But uhilo admitting that nothing more whs attainable «t the moment, M. KoKSuth pointed with S'iti*f«ction to nuccewes and (once**it»n« already achieved, notably thut regard in jf (he education of Hungarian officers. Count Tirza in bis reply proniu-sil to take iinnicdiate steps for the reform of the suffrage, lie further stilled that he hail no objection (o Parliament anii'ining by a resolution the principle that "m Hungary the «wrce of every right, mul in th<» Army the source of righti appei'Uiining to the* language of •orvica auii command, js the will 01 tha

nation <i.s ixprc>t"J liumi^li the L^in- ' l.ituiv."' thiuigli hi w.i., i.iieful ti> .t'l'l th.it much th^ louiui 'ti.ni of the kingdom the will of tin- Clown li:>d l)«'Ui ,111 lllie(jr.il purl of the natioiul will, thi* two iicloii) .4i;uuhi2(. 1 ; iv oig;ilii< ivhil icir'-'iiii lo 'M( h oilier, l it' lernniiiitioii of the deadlock hn.-> boon luukd with great iv'itfbodh in liuiig.iry and Auf-tiui. 1 liouj*h 1 lit- An.*.-ti-iun pi* am c«>n.iuleia thnt the dual .>>y.>tem hus received a lie.tvy blow. SPANISH J'OLITICvS. The. TimoH co; u'niciulent in Madrid forwards au intoi(.sLiu|{ aceoutil. of the einev-g-'iico of a new politi<Ml party in Spain. 'I ho new orgauiMilion, which us known ii» (ho Democratic Libernl laity, is the result of a co'ilitiou between Senur Montero lUos, th? I/catk-r of the Libi'ral "old giuml," Jitul the iUi>li<al Honor C'iiimlt*jn. v , who will, it. is hinted, bu shortly joined by General Weyler. The avowed aim» of tho party jhv to promote a more active for«jgn policy, especially an agieement with Fmnce and Ji.nglaiul, juul it.s formation haw given great watisfnetion in Portugal. Tll Spain, howvvuv, ihe new coalition is viewed with distrust, and Senov CaJialeja-s na« been freely and bitterly chni^fcd with bartering his priivcijile.s fur tho chance of securing the loaves of office. It is the object of his partisan.", as the correspondent observes-, to adapt to Spain <v method of government .similar to the alliance of Socialists and Radical Republicans effected by M. Wnldcck-Uouo-seau in France; but Senor Canalcjas has ret to prove that he posso.^es tho grit and welding-power shown by the French eX-Preniier. IN THE SOUDAN. A serious fin tiger luts been averted in (he Soudan hy tho remarkable promptitude and vigour of the De.pul.y-Gnve.rnor-Genoral, Colonel Million, jilrcudy weil known for Ins fli^tiiiguished wr vices 'in Egypt nnd South Africa, where he comniuiulod tho column &cnt to ivlievc ,Mnfeking. Sown huvitig leached Colonel Mnlion at Khartoum that 11 fals-e Mahdi hail arisen in Southern Kortlofnu, he at once

proceeded by steamer two hundred miles up the White Nile with two hundred cay airy, marched another tM'o hundred miles acroas the desert towards Tagalla, surprised tho Mahdi and his principal followers at daybreak after a forced night march, ami «vnt him uudor escort to I'M Obeid, whrro ho was tried and hanged. The severity of tho punishment need not excito surprise when it is considered thnt tlio new M.ihdi, a Tunisian Arab named Mahomed Xl Amin, was already in open rebellion, had collected a largo following, a.nd wa.s conducting a vigorous propaganda on exactly the same lines a« tho origin- 1 al Mahdi. After effecting tho capture, Colont-I I^tahon, according to previous arrangement, joined a force of infantry from El Obeid, neat- Tagalla, whwu there had been a general belief in tho neAvly arisen Mahdi, and marched back to the Whito Nile by easy stages. There .seem to havo been in> casualties in action, but four men dioil of imiistroUo, no £«-■« «■*• tlitui 75 per cent, of tho forco went down with fever on tho return journey, and many of tho hoisos Bucuunibcd to grass-poisoning. WHITE LABr)UR OX THK RAND. ! Sir Arthur Lawloy, tho LieutenantCJuvornor of Iho Transvaal, lxnieived a deputation of tho Trades and Labour Council.", the African Labour League, and tho White League last 'fciaturduy at Johannesbmg, aiul male an importaJit Ftatomeiit on Iho Labour quostiou. A recent Npeech of his, ho ohserved. might pos.^ibly be inleipreted a.s a pledge that, in regard to tho question of imported labour, the acceptance or otherwise of tho Imperial Government would be solely 'dependent on the vote of tho Legislative Council. In older to correct any erroneous impression, Sir Arthur La.wley now clearly stated that it wa.s obviously impossible for him to give any such pledge. "The sanction of His Majesty's Government will, of course, be necessary before the introduction of any legislation of this nature, and I am sure that the policy of tho Home Government will not tako a deflnito or j concroto form unitl tbo report of the La- !

bo.tr ('oinuiH-s'tiui i»,Jn iheir lipiulk, fiul lit.' lii.itt r li i.s bi ' v fully threshed ovt in tin- L.'giA ativi* Oaunril." With rogaril d> tin' ltioierulum which the iKputat<on it<l d .'." d-'ijlM'iblo l)eloio thu pa&Mlig <if any \>\w 'i.ufiAin^ with rhe- importrtion cf (.!hine.se }.>lmui'. Sir Aithnr Lawley pmtiud <mt thi'. ililliculla's of e,ueh a oiiu.H', .uul cioVaiiit-d (hat it wji*. a matter wlmli wo uid' hnve to be dibcu&sed by tin- Legi.sUlu.o Council. MR. RCHfiKVKLT'S M.ESSAOK. Tho iv w.spi itpers on Tue.sflay conljiined I'ivMili'iit Koowvelt'.s M^ewige tn Con-gri-.'.s, tin. y( sir n vety lengthy MeKS,ige, in which he Kcviews every dcpiirtmenl of |iolitic.'i Tho^hief interest naturally contieh on the pm&igiits dealing with the Alu.skuu awurd „;»4id. Pauqjnii. On the first (ntc&lioii thototio of the M.< v a*nge is all that crmlel bc-'"tli*ired,and there is nothing in it to hurt O uindian. feeling in thcainalltht degree, tin tho Panama, question the President, enumeratesu merates the t-erms of tho treaty with the new Panmna Govwnnieiifc providing for the making of « cannl acro.vj llio is( hmus, and defends the uclion of his Grf'jvcrnmcnb iv tho recent Central Aincriiian troubles. Jfc wus not a. question of alrenmte routes, for that had been irrdi"dr;ably ssttled, but whether there *>ln>»ld //u a e.mul at all. The Colombian Government repudiated the recent treaty, and tho people of Panama, who .had long' been discontented and Mcro elorcly ititercrited 'in 'the canal, ro.se as one man. , Colombia' being incapable of keeping ordet" on the isthmus, ajid refusing to liecopmiso her treaty obligations, tho plain duty of tho United Stutes was to recogni."e a Ciowrmnant which could do both, llcir liovcrninout hud no comjihaHj' in (he revolution; it merely bided Ha iinw And crtrried «;ut its treaty obligaliouw with UlO I'ower which wa.s dv facto pi'Jilouiin.mt. We trust that President Houfrewlt's frank and stnUssnianliko ticduration will put an 'end to the idle accui'ations- agnitusl Ai»:ric«n diplomacy. Tli r E FISCAL PROBLEM.. At n. Council mecliitg of the Central Jtnd,

A.s«)ciated Chambers of Agriculture hold at tho rooms of the Society of Arl.s on Wednesday, tho discii&*<ion on preferential tarilT» was resumed nnd pushed to a vote. Mr. Rider Haggard on 3rd November had moved a i evolution cordially welcoming tho proposals of Mr. Chamberlain as necessary and desirable. An amendment was now moved by Mr. Middleton (Cleveland Chamber) recommending the appointment of a Koyal Commiroion to enquire into our fecal policy. Mr." Middleton, who declared himself oppavod to Mr. ChamberlainV) prnpoMifc, wns supported by tho representatives, of some of the Northern Chambers, but on a divi.sion tlio amendment was last by a largo majority, Mr. Uider Haggard's resolution being carried with only Msren dissentients. Mr. Chaplin observed that "this country was ripening already in favour of Mr." Chamberlain, and if they \yished to eeo that ripening process carried on still more rapidly «t tho piweiit time, ihey had to maKe it clear, to tho Primo Minister thaA tho agricultural intoroj.t as a wholtt fl*as practically unanimous in i<© support of Mr. Chamberlain." But- by- far tho most frank and significant declaration was that of Mr. "Rider Haggard when he .said that "there was no room (or a half-way houms on tho su>ep road that ran from Fwjtratio to Protection." , W<> could not w.'fch for a. clearer .statement^ of the- ijmic how before the. country.. Air, Haggard, at any mtt\ luin no use for sucli labels a» "Pro-jm-xsivo Ualfmirite." hy whicu Major Coate*, the Conservative candidate for Lewis-liam, lias ju*t designated jiimwlf. Wo may hero add that, in reply to a cornv>pond?nt, the Duke of Devonshire, as President uf tlio Unionist Free-Fond League, has recommended electors who are Freetraders lo decline to give (heir support at any election to a ProtectionistUnionist candidate. '"*

Tho revenue of tho Invevcargill Athcn- ! acum loft year was £1163, and the cxpendituio £1127. During tho your (ho bank overdraft was reduced by £600 by thfi sale of debentures..