period of shuffling delay the French claims would be settled and diplomatic relations once more established. The French Government had taken a position which meant plainly that a French fleet would proceed to enforce the claims after the Czar's visit had ended, unless approved steps had been taken by the government at Constantinople to meet its obligations. Meanwhile, the French authorities gave Turkey an object-lesson or two by heaping honors upon the Egyptian Khedive, and by expelling from the country the Turkish spies who have heretofore kept watch upon the movements of the leaders in Paris, Brussels, and Geneva of the socalled "Young Tur: key Party," the ob

THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, WHO

HAS RULED YEARS.

TWENTY-FIVE

ject of which is the overthrow of Abdul Hamid.

tocol Signed.

Our

On September 6, the very day of Mr. Chinese Pro- McKinley's assassination, the official news was sent out from Washington that on the following day the Chinese plenipotentiaries and the representatives of the powers, including the United States, at Peking would bring to an end the negotiations which had been pending for an entire year by signing the treaty, or protocol, as it is technically termed. readers have already been apprised of the general basis of pecuniary indemnity that had, been agreed upon. The protocol provides for certain changes in the Chinese revenue system, including the increase of duties on specified commodities and the abolition of the corrupt internal rice tribute. The new duties, which are to be ad valorem at first, are to be converted to the form of specific duties at an early day on a basis of average prices during recent years.

The evacu

ation of the Forbidden City was accomplished on September 17, when a Japanese general with 200 soldiers and Major Robertson with 100 American troops made over their task of military protection to 300 Chinese soldiers. This, with the departure of a British battalion from India, practically ended the evacuation of Peking by the allies. The entire province of Chili was turned over to China on September 22. In another clause of the protocol it is provided that hence forth foreign nations are to communicate, not

with the Tsung-li-Yamen, as heretofore, but through a new foreign office, the first head of which is to be Prince Ching, who has acted as one of the peace plenipotentiaries, and with whom two associate foreign ministers will act, while the practical work of the office will be performed by some younger Chinese diplomats who have served in Washington, Paris, and elsewhere.

Our

the American Legation, left Peking for the United States at the beginning of September, Minister Conger being on duty again. special commissioner, Mr. Rockhill, started for the United States by way of Japan on September 8, and several European diplomats of high standing also left Peking last month after the signing of the protocol. The Americans, it may be noted incidentally, were the first to restore to China certain river vessels or barges which had been seized for transport purposes. Another of the closing incidents of the Chinese episode was the reception at Potsdam, on September 4, by the German Emperor of Prince Chun, who came from Peking at the head of the special mission to make expiation for the murder of the German

ably, the sympathies of all Europe continue to be intensely pro-Boer. Lord Kitchener's proclamation of August 7 had designated September 15 as the date upon which a new policy would begin. The purport of this proclamation was to deny the Boers their belligerent rights. The leaders were told that unless they had capitulated before that date they would be permanently banished from South Africa. In any case, Lord Kitchener might have remembered that considerable parts of South Africa belong, respectively, to Germany and Portugal. But the main criticism upon the proposed policy lies in the fact that, like various other measures already taken or seriously proposed by the English in South Africa, it is contrary to the laws and usages of civilized warfare. Lord Kitchener continues to send in his formidable weekly lists of surrenders and captures; but these have begun to shock the credulity of certain skeptical statisticians, who show by a simple process of addition that all the Boer fighters must by this time have been captured, according to the weekly reports,-yet the war goes on, with thousands of Boers still in the field. The South African spring has now begun, and the grass on the veldt provides forage for the horses and cattle of the Boers, and aids them in a renewed exhibition of activity. Lord Kitchener reported during the first two weeks of September that 1,240 of the enemy had been killed, wounded, and captured, or had surrendered voluntarily. But on the 18th he was obliged to report that General Botha had captured three companies of mounted British infantry, of whom 16 were killed and 29 wounded, while 155 others were made prisoners and three pieces of artillery were taken. This happened near Utrecht, not far from the Natal line, and it was understood that Botha was planning an invasion of Natal. On September

20, the report was received from Lord Kitchener that the Boers had captured a company of mounted infantry and two guns at Vlakfontein. President Krüger has instructed the Boers in the field to fight on, and refuses to give up hope. The English papers are full of the news of arrests and trials of Dutchmen in Cape Colony and Pretoria on the charge of acting as spies, or of giving aid to the enemy. Dr. Krause, formerly governor of Johannesburg, was arrested in London early in September on the charge of espionage.

English

Notes.

English public men have been scattered every where, spending their vacation season according to their tastes. The King and Queen have been on the Continent, visiting the Queen's parents at Copenhagen, and extending their travels to Sweden, where on September 20 they were guests of King Oscar of Sweden and Norway. There have been renewed reports that Lord Salisbury would soon retire, and that his place as premier would be taken by Mr. Balfour; but these have not been confirmed. September 20 was the date for the unveiling of the great statue of King Alfred at Winchester, on the occasion of the millennial celebration in honor of that noble ruler. Lord

MR. BALFOUR PLAYING GOLF IN SCOTLAND.

Rosebery, who was the orator of the day, declared King Alfred wrought immortal work for us, and for our sister nation over the sea, which in supreme moments of stress and sorrow is irresistibly joined to us across the centuries and across the seas." Mr. Charles Francis Adams spoke for the American delegates. The principal universities of the English-speaking world. were represented, and the occasion was a very notable one. The colossal statue is the work of William H. Thornycroft. Winchester was King Alfred's capital, and he was buried there in October of the year 901. Mr. Frederic Harrison, who did

STATUE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

ber.

H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AND YORK.

The programme in the main was carried out, but it was modified on the side of its banqueting and feasting by reason of the sympathy felt in Canada for the people of the United States. The 19th, the day following Mr. McKinley's funeral, was set apart as a day of mourning in Canada, and services were held in many churches. It was quite seriously suggested in England that the Duke of York should in person attend the funeral of President McKinley, as the most conspicuous mark that the British nation could show of its sympathy and good-will; but the duke had just arrived, and there was not time to make the necessary arrangements. He was, however, represented at Canton by Commander Faussett, of the royal navy, who is an aide-de-camp to the duke. The duke's plans were made for a five weeks' visit in Canada. According to the itinerary, after four days at Ottawa he was to leave on the 24th for the far West, breaking journey at Winnipeg on the 26th, Regina on the 27th, and Calgary on the 28th, arriving at Vancouver on the 30th. After four days at Vancouver and Victoria, the return journey was to begin, and Toronto was to be reached on October 10. After two days there, visits were to be made to various towns in western Ontario, and Niagara was to be reached