Berlin, 30th December.
Austria-Hungary has given notice of the commercial treaty with German; Reports from Italy consider the situation in Moroccy as very grave; the rebels are advancing everywhere.
President Castro seems to be more inclined now to listen to the propositions of the Powers.
The negotiations about the Ansgleich between Austria and Hungary have again failed.
The Ausgleich is the agreement between the two countries fixing the contribution of each to the cost of udministration of affairs common to them both
and Naval affairs; (3) Finance relating to that is o Foreign Atairs; (2) Military common affairs. This agreement, which requires to be renewed every ton years, expired in 1897 without a fresh understanding having been reached. Under a comprotiise settled by the Eiaperor-King, Hungary pays 34.4 per cent of the com mon expenditure.—Ep. "'N.-C.D News, SIst December.
King George of Saxony has fallen seriously sick, President Castro is again hesitating in accepting the conditions under which the: Powers have agreed to lay the Venezuelan question before the Hague Tribunal.
The Powers are waiting whether the present Sultan of Morocco or his rebellious: opponent will be victorious. If diplomatic steps should become necessary later on, a conference of the Powers concerned will probably be convened.
The Russian Minister of foreign affairs, Count Lamsdorff, has been successful in Belgrade, Sofia and Vienna, having received the assurance of the governments that they will suppress all troubles next spring.
2nd January.
The Powers have received a rather conciliatory declaration from President Cas-while the blockade will be maintained! tro. The negotiations will be taken up, Therewith the critical point has been overcome.
No news has been received from Fez. The eventual defeat of the Sultan will be without any influence on the other Powers, provided his successor is able to re-establish peace ind order throughout the country. Germany intends to leave) othe; the precedence in Morocco as far a5 pol: tical questions are c_ncerned, to Great Britain, France, and Spain, on condition that her commercial interests are suffi ently considered.
The negotiations about the Ausgleich between Austria and Hungary are now gaining a better prospect. This is the more satisfactory 2s the final failure would entail an entire discord between the two parts of the empire and would endanger the position of Austria-Hungary as a great power.
The Vienna negotiations of Count Lamsdorff have been very successful.
The German Crown-prince will visit the Czar at St. Petersburg in the middle of this month.
5th Junnary.
The German Crown-prince will make a trip through the Mediterraneannest spring. He will, on this occasion, first visit the Egypt, Athens, and Conan maple.
g andi Queen of Italy and later on go to is reported from Dresden that the health of the King of Saxony is improving.
It is probable that the Sultan of Morocco will resign in favour of his elder brother.
The Russian and the Austrian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Count Lamsdorff and Count Goluchowski, have agreed, that the corps of Gendarmes in Macedonia is to be improved and that the country will in future be represented in the Dette Publique and the Revenue Office, but will have neither autonomy nor a Christian Governor The following telegrams are from the " Kobe Herald"
London, 28rd December.
Transatlantic wireless dispatches are being freely exchanged. 7 24th December.
Admiral Fournier has been appointed to the supreme command of the French fleet.
Peking, 25th December, M. Lamsdorff, Russian ForeignSecretary, has recommended the Chinese Minister in St. Petersburg to draw his Government's attention to the advisability of China's adopting a gold standard. The Minister further stated that Russia is prepared to assist China with the necessary capital by issuing gold bonds. He explained to the Chinese representative that 10 other alternative than this is possible China is to be delivered from the financial diticulties under which she is suffering.
Mainichi 'The Japanese Representative in Mexico telegraphs to the Foreign Office in Tokio that' the Minister of Foreign Aduirs submitted the Budget to the Chamber on the 16th instant, and that along speech made by him on that occasion seemed to indicate Uiat Mesien lis not at, present any intention of adopting the gold standard.
London, 27th December.
M._Pelletan, the French Minister for the Navy, declares that the condition of the French Navy is appalling.
Peking, 27th Dezember Itis reported that a secret treaty was signed between the late Li Hung-chang and the Russian Minister Count sini regarding the Customs question in churia, and Prince Ching was troubled how to reject the Russian claim on the matter. The British and Japanese Ministers to Peking advised the Chinese Government recently that they will dain the same privilege if it is Russia. Prince Ching is now taking uy a firmer attitude toward Russi Miles has arrived at Peking.—' Jiji. 29th December.
Russia has sent_a note to the Chinese Government in which the following demands are set forth 1.—Russian officers only to be engaged in drilling the troops in Tongshan provines. railway dep:
The mines now actively worked to 1 be entrusted to Russians for supervision.
Mainichi."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.