Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 3, 1904

— The business district of Rochester, N. Y., was swept by a conflagration which destroyed $4,000,000 worth of property, February 26.

— An international peace congress is appointed to be held in Boston the first week in October next, following which other meetings will be held in New York, Washington, and Chicago.

— A plot to blow up a theater at Park City, Utah, while a performance was in progress, was defeated by a fortunate discovery of the dynamite in the basement of the theater, February 22.

— The Panama Canal treaty, which has for some time been the subject of warm discussion in the United States Senate, was passed by that body, February 23, by a large majority. This apparently insures the construction of the inter-oceanic canal at an early date.

— As an outcome of the governmental movement in France to take the control of public instruction out of the hands of the papacy, it is now proposed to establish a system of common schools similar to that existing in the United States. The estimated first cost of such a system in France is $13,000,000. About $1,500,000 yearly will be required for its maintenance.

— No news of any important battle between the Japanese and Russian forces in Korea has come from the scene of military operations, beyond an unconfirmed rumor of a Russian defeat near the Yalu River. In a night attack on Port Arthur the Japanese attempted to sink several hulks of merchant ships in the narrow entrance to the harbor, with the design of shutting up the Russian fleet inside. Korea is in alliance with Japan against Russia. There are rumors of a Japanese invasion of Manchuria and investment of Vladivostok. No reports of military operations come from the Japanese, whose policy it is to preserve absolute silence about the campaign. Russia has addressed a note to the leading world powers, charging Japan with treachery and violation of the law of nations in making an attack without a formal declaration of war. Rumors are also current that an understanding exists between Russia and Germany. A note of sympathy is said to have been addressed to the czar by Emperor William.

— The late decision of The Hague Tribunal concerning the money claims of several of the world powers against Venezuela is regarded with much dissatisfaction and considerable distrust in the United States. The decision makes those nations which some time ago resorted to threats and a show of force before Venezuela, preferred creditors, thus apparently setting a premium upon that method of collecting a debt owed by a weaker to a stronger nation. But in addition to this, it is stated that there is an understanding among the European powers, which is embodied in the decision, that the United States is to be responsible for the payment by Venezuela of the claims awarded the creditor nations, three months' time being given this government in which to secure from Venezuela the amount of these claims. In other words, the United States is to be made the collector for Europe's bad debts. This seemingly represents Europe's alternative to the Monroe doctrine, the United States being expected, if it will not allow European nations to use force on the Western republics, to be responsible for these republics in the matter of their obligations to European powers. What will happen if the United States should fail to collect these debts in the time specified, is not stated.