Berlin, 20th March. The French-Russian note has caused in London most painful surprise. It was handed to Chancellor Count Biilow by the Russian and French Ambassadors before it was made public. The Berlin Press thinks that Russia and France may contemplate a strike against India. The Russian papers, however, consider the note absolutely peaceful. The "Figaro" declares that even if Great Britain's p sition in East Asia was strengthened by the Japanese treaty, France hws no reason to become disturbed.
2st March, Chancellor Count Biilow has gone on leave to Venice; he will meet during his it in Italy the Italian Secretary of Foreign Attairs, Prenetti.
The lecturer of the Polytechnical Academy in Aix-la-Chapelle, Delius, has been attached permanently to the Ger-mian Consulate-General at Shanghai as expert for trade questions.
The Powers of the Triple Alliance and America will maintain absolute neutrality towards the Russian-French Alliance, as it does not touch any territorial questions.
The Berlin National-Zeitung" considers it rather impossible that Russia has pledged herself to support France elsewhere in certain contingencies in return for French support in East Asia.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Deleassé. stated that the agreement between England and Japan did not contain anything which would cause mistrust en the part of France. The principles contained therein could only satisfy France in consideration of the fact that the French-Russian Alliance was of a permanent, nature.
The "Débats" says: France will know how to protect Russia against the dangerous clause in regard to an intervention as contained in the Anglo-Japauase Agreement.
The " Liberté" thinks that the Fr Russian Alliance aims to sustain the equilibrim in Europe.
The "Matin" writes: The Japanese Minister in London cbarastorises the meaning of the new treaty as one which spures to the development of Japan's trade and. industry. the ma nrenance of peace, and the holding back of misunderstandings.
Minister Delcaseé will question in regard to the Note on next Mondey. ly to another The "Novoje-Vremja" expresses its conviction that the French-Russian Note will have the desired effect; the Double Alliance was unshaken and was also to prove in East Asia its solidarity.
An agreement has been signed between England and Persia with regard to the construction of a_ telegraph line from Kashan (about 125 miles south of Teheran) via Jesd and Kirman to the Baluchistan Frontier. The new lino will be leased to the Indo-European Telegraph Company.
The German training ship Charlotte ith Prince Adalbert of Prussia, third son of H. M. the Emperor, is leaving for New York.
The wellkmown Hungarian statesman Koloman Tigza, who took a prominent part in the adjustment of matters between Austria and Hungary and who is chiefly responsible for the policy of an absolute Magyarising of Hungary, has died, aged 72 years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.