EUROPE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 7, 17 February 1909, Page 7

EUROPE.

The Stockholm correspondent of ths “Times" reports that both Chambers have voted for universal suffrage with proportional representation. Further heavy shocks of earthquake have occurred in the Messina and Reggio districts, and the inhabitants are greatly alarmed. The Berlin Jack the Ripper, who murdered a number of women early last year, has renewed his murderous assaidts upon women, and during the past week has fatally stabbed six. French Poet Murdered. The mutilated body of C'atulle Mendes, the French poet, has been discovered in a tunnel close to St. Germain. From the appearance of the body, robbery- is suggested as the motive of the outrage. Politics in Turkey. Kiamil Pasha (the Grand Vizier), upholding the programme of the Libera! Union, based on the maintenance of the Turkish Constitution and the rights of all classes and races, has introduced Cabinet changes, and thus frustrated the attempt at military dictatorship under Yousssouf lyzebin, the latter representing the Committee of the Union of Progress, whose influence is waning. Nazim Pasha, the new Minister for War, is a liberal-minded statesman. w*i« reorganised the Adrianople corps; while Husni Pasha, the new Minister for Marine, was attached for some time to the British Navy. Kiamil Pasha, Grand Vizier of Turkey, refusing to attend the Chamber of Deputies to explain the charges made against his administration until Wednesday next, was censured by 198 votes to 8, after a stormy six hours' debate. The vote was superfluous, as prior to the end of the sitting Kiamil Pasha had rendered his resignation, alleging that the Chamber had made a "dead set" against him. This, he declared, was due to the influence of the Committee of Union and Progress. bis ground for the assertion being that his dismissed colleagues enjoyed the confidence of the Committee. The Committee denies that it intends that Izzet-din shall supersede the Sultan, and adds that as long as the Sultan respects the Constitution the Committee will respect his life and rights. The Chamber has asked the Sultan to appoint a Grand Vizier deserving the confidence of the nation. Royal Visit to Berlin. Their Majesties King Edward and Queen Alexandra arrived in Berlin on Wednesday, receiving a magnificent reception by all classes. German newspapers cordially welcomed King Edward to Berlin, and expressed the hope that the way would be mutually prepared for a gradual and last ing re-approaehment between the two peoples. The Kaiser's permission to allow a eivie welcome to King Edward and Queen Alexandra, with a supplementary official reception, led to remarkable demonstrations. Berlin has never before displayed such enthusiasm to a visitor In spite of 13 public socialistic meetings of protest, the people are delighted at the prospect of better relations with England, but there is no sign of any move favouring a reduction of armaments. A grand State ball, given at the Emperor's palace in honour of the Royal visitors, was a great success. At a banquet given in their honour, attended by 160 guests, the Kaiser, in warmly toasting the Royal visitors, markedly associated the whole people with his own view that the visit, besides being a token of friendship. was a pledge of future peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries. His Imperial Majesty added : “1 know how much our wishes for the preservation and strengthening of peace are in accord, and I am firmly convinced that Your Majesties’ visit will contribute to the realisation of these, our wishes." King Edward, in an equally cordial reply, concluded by remarking: "The visit aims at the strengthening of the friendly relations between the two Countries, and thus at the preservation of tho

general peace towards which alt my ?n deaveurs are directed." The "Vossische Zeitung’’ aay* that th< visit is a proof that the coldness which existed between the two courts is a thing of the past, and that it will not be the fault of Germans if the visit 11 not the beginning of a better understand ing between two kindred peoples. Some German Conservative paper* ara unsympathetic. The ••Reichbate" revive* the charge of King Edward’s attempt to isolate Germany and destroy the Triple Alliance. The ‘‘Bor set Zeitung" declares that conversations lad.ween the monarchs will contain no reference to disarmament. The ’‘Fremdenblatt/’ one of the loading Vienna dailies, says it i* the Eastern crisis and the community of peaceful interests which have drawn Britain and Germany closer together. Several Berlin correspondents of Ix.»n<lon dailies state that the conversations between King Edward and the Kaiser, Sir Charles Hardinge (Permanent UnderSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and Herr von Schoen (German Minister for Foreign Affairs) covered a wide field. Exchanges of view* between the two foreign offices will in future be more fre quent than in the past, while the general results of the meeeting are expected to be highly satisfactory, although nobody expects that they will tend to a reduction in armaments. The Kaiser, in thanking the Burgomaster of Berlin for the arrangements of the Rathans visit, declares that the citi zens of Berlin substantially contributed to making King Edward’s stay pleasant and joyous. The warmth of their welcome, he continued, betokened an earnest desire on the part of the German people to cultivate and strengthen friendly relations with their kindred nation. Reuter’s Berlin correspondent reports that Prince Buelow, Chancellor of the Empire, is optimistic as to the results of the visit, lie hopes that public opinion in both countries will follow the example of the honest, pacific aims and sin cere reciprocal understanding arrived at by rulers and statesmen on both sides. Quieting Eown. In view of Turkey’s declaration that she does not intend to seek an increase of territory, and in response to Russia’s advice, Bulgaria has demobilised the reserves of the eighth division. 11. Isvolsky (Russian .Minister for Foreign Affairs) considers that a pacific solution oof the difficulty is now assured, the question at issue being restricted to mere finance. Steamer Lost. Owing to a storm shifting a buoy, the British steamer Forest Cistle took the wrong channel when entering Brest Bay in France, and struck a rot k. A hole was torn in the bottom of the steamer, which rapidly sank. The boats wore got out. and most of the crew were landed safely, but nine were drowned in attempting to reach the shore.