HOME AND FOREIGN CABLES

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8288, 17 September 1903, Page 2

HOME AND FOREIGN CABLES

[By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

Pee Press Association.

Received September 17, at 7.44 a.m. London, September 16. In the course of His notes to his colleagues Mr Balfour declares : "I am in harmony with the true spirit of freetrade and am asking freedom to negotiate in order that the freedom of exchange may bo increased." The Daily Telegraph's St. Petersburg correspondent learns on the highest diplomatic authority that Russia intends to expose .Bulgaria to the danger of war and defeat, and then go to her rescue, thus gaining Bulgaria's tliankful allegiance. The Czar will thus become master of Turkey. Tho Times, commenting on the tariff question, says llr Balfour's active sympathies are with Mr Chamberlain's policy, but it. is hardly possible to suppose ho would not meet Parliament to defend these principles. If vacancies occur doubtless tliey will be filled.

The Standard declares Mr Balfour's cardinal idea is potential retaliation. He lias passed the stage, of the open mind to that of a fixed belief that the principle of a tariff for exclusively revenue purposes must no longer dominate our policy, but ho docs not, indicate sp:cifio steps. The Daily Mail says Mr Balfour's manifesto is a groat political surprise. He. points to the origin of tho decline, in trade but dors not mention the food taxes. The. Liberal organs describe the manifesto as one of protection.

Received September 17, at 7.48 a.m. London, September 16. St. James' Gazette, contradicting the Standard's information, declares that tho issue is momentous. Trade preference cannot be indefinitely postponed. It adds that- were the Cabinet to arrive at the decision indicated, reconciliation would be impossible and Mr Chamberlain would immediately resign. Reuter's Sofia correspondent says that Bulgaria's note was dictated probably less by the alarming reports of wholesale massacres than by the Powers apathy. Bulgaria, waited liopefully"until the eleventh hour, expecting the Powers would show some intention of intervening. Tho note emphasises Bulgaria's attitude of selfdefence and her intention not to be taken by surprise.

Received September 17, at 7.56 a.m. New York, September 16. Mr Pierponfc Morgan is requesting tho American steel trust underwriters to extend the agreement for nine months, and has called up an additional five milb'on dollars in cash. Five thousand men havo been discharged from the trust's mines in Wisconsin and North Michigan owing to the non-shipment of last winter's stock of pipes. Received September 17, at 8.2 a.m. London, September 16. The Northern Investment Company of New Zealand show a, profit of £5219; a dividend of 5 per cent was declared, and £219 was carried forward. The directors report the whole investments of the colony wore. realised without loss of principal or interest. They propose to receive tno reserve and redeem the debentures preparatory to winding up. When, iho surplus above is paid, the principal will be available.

Paris, September 16. The Meseageries JLaritimes steamer Polynesian, from Australia, was stranded in a gale in the outer harbor at Marseilles. Received September 17, at B.4ii a.m. ■London, September 16. Tho Admiralty decline to listen, to stron-g representations that Lyttelton is the best port of departure for the Antarctic. A Blue Book issued, covering 500 pages, shows that, between 1890 and 1902, British experts of manufactured and partly manufactured articles to Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Russia, United States, and Italy fell from '£83,629,000 to £69,837,000, while the exports to all foreign countries fell from £149,651,000 to £131,688,000. Tho exports of the British possessions during tho same period rose from £79,154,000 to 95,959,000.

Received September 17, at 8.53 a.m. London, September 16. The Westminster Gazette declares that Mr Balfour's absolute silence upon the question of colonial preference is no proof of irs abandonment. Tho country is entitled to believe that the Cabinet- is sticking to its mandate of protection within the limits of their own discretion. Clearly Mr Balfour is not- strong enough to demand Mr Chamberlain's resignation or the. withdraw;: I of his policy.

Tho St. James' Gazette says that though Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain are advancing towards the same goal they are doing so on converging lines. It is regrettable that Mr Balfour's pamphlet to the 'limes did not emphasise the importance of preference for the colonies. The policy will fail unless preference, is conceded to Canadian corn and Australasian meat.

Received September 17, at 9.25 a.m. London, September 16. Experts declare that, if the proposed new service rifle is adopted, the British Army will be worse armed than ever.

Belgrade, September 16. The regicides refuse t.o allow the King to appoint, his brother, Arsan, Commander-in-chief on the ground that he is merely a cavalry captain in tho Russian army, and has no qualifications for tho post. Recsived September 17, at 9.25 a.m. Constantinople, September 17. Turkish troops prevented the British Consul at Adrianoplo from inquiring into their excesses.

Received September 17, at 9.33 a.m. Paris, September 16. The Marseilles Sanitary Committee urge the Government to appeal to the Powers not to quarantine- the port consequent on plague, as there is no need for alarm. The. Marseilles dustmen have struck and refuse to remove refuse.

The Moors attacked a French convov at Bendables killing the leader and thirteen Algerian sharpshooters. , ■ M. Jaures,. writing to the newspaper Petite.Republique, says France is organising a protectorate in Morocco with its capital atTangiers.

Received September 17, at 11.6 a.m. • . London, September 16. The American counsel will be allowed the last address in connection with the Alaskan boundary arbitration.