The French Government, following example given by Great Britain, is desisting from any further policy of expansion in the West Indies, in order to strengthen with all her power the position she now holds in East Asia.
The French Minister Etienne stated at a colonial banquet, that Indo-China would never become anything else than French. The colonizing efforts there had never been interrupted.
Mr. Hay, the American Secretary of State, declared to the Haitian Minister, that the United States did not intend to take possession of Haiti and San Domingo.
3rd March.
The " Figaro" states that the American navy is priuicipally increased for the purpose of securing to the United States the supremacy of the Pacific and is, consequently, mainly against Japan.
The new German import tariff will come into force on the Ist of March 1906.
Two most important ukases of the Czar have just been promulgated. The first one, referring to the immense ternal external difficulties in which Russia is placed at this moment, exhorts all officials as well as the population and the clergy, to hold loyally to the Czar and to Russia. It expresses the hope final victory over all internal and external enemies, thereby strength the autocracy. The second ukase star that a meeting of the Ministry, presided over by the Czar, will take place, wherein all desires expressed to the Czar either by individuals or institutions will be considered.
The Japi are now termi Army, consisting of eight di 8, of four regiments each, in all about 140,000 men This Army is organised in the same way as the active fled army which is now in Manchuria. The segimonts are composed of recruits and met of the Landwolir of the years 1887 to 1991 sions of this army, comprise: of these troops will advance in the direc. tion of Vladivostock, part has orders to push forward with the object of outflanking the Russian left wing in Manchuria.
Nonr Hakodate a squadron, consisting of two armoured cruisers and two protected cruisers, as well as four divisions of destroyers (apparently together sixteen torpedo-boats), has been collected. The auxiliary cruisers Hongkong Mara and Nippov Maru, which were in-December on the east coast of Java, have also joined this squadron.
Admiral Togo is still with the majority of his fleet in the neighbourhood of Saseho, apparently waiting to sce what movements the Baltic fleet will make after reaching the East Asiatic waters.
Large coal depots have been provided for the Japanese fest at Kelung (Formos) and on the Pescadore Islands. 'The naval base created there is strongly protected by mines. On the Island of Formosa itself many blockhouses have been erected, by which the aborigines, who are disposed to be troublesome, are' kept well in hand, Besides those named above, two re-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.