British-Tibetan Treaty and International Tensions
The published text of the British-Tibetan treaty shows that Colonel Younghusband drove a shrewd bargain with the Tibetans. The treaty practically gives the British a monopoly of Tibetan trade. The Tibetans are to pay an indemnity of $2,500,000 in annual instalments. Until this is paid, the British will maintain a garrison in the Chumsti Valley. This arrangement may prolong the British occupation indefinitely. Russia and all other foreign powers are barred out of Tibet by the obligation imposed on the Tibetans not to lease or sell any of their territory to any other power without Great Britain's consent. Besides this, the construction of roads, railways, and telegraphs, and the opening of mines is reserved to the British. This will doubtless result in a British protectorate over Tibet before many years. It is feared that grave complications may arise as a result of the carrying out of Russia's program for her Baltic fleet. Already England is protesting against the extraordinary concessions allowed these ships by Spain in the matter of coaling and victualing in Spanish ports. With Spain's assistance, the Baltic fleet would doubtless be able to reach the scene of operations in Chinese waters. Then Japan could call upon England for the assistance promised in the Anglo-Japanese treaty. This would create a crisis which would bring Germany's aid to Russia, in the opinion of many officials. A wave of popular agitation now prevails in France over what is termed the “yellow peril,” as a result of Japan's recent remarkable display of force. It is said that this apprehension is shared to a considerable extent in official circles, where it has been suggested that the danger might compel the European powers to consider the necessity of effecting a coalition for self-defense against the “peril.” Other nations having large interests in the East share the same apprehension. The recent French military maneuvers have demonstrated the terrible effectiveness of the new guns and shells used by the French. Each of the shells thrown burst into 240 deadly fragments, whereas the shells used in the Franco-German war burst into only 30. The present French shrapnel shells are calculated to scatter 400 deadly particles, whereas the former shrapnel scattered only 37. The French are using the old-fashioned black powder to create a smoke curtain to conceal the army's advance. The followers of F. W. Sanford of Shiloh, Me., self-styled Elijah, have been called to Shiloh, as the “place in the wilderness,” spoken of in the 12th chapter of Revelation. Here they are to have a refuge during the wrath of the dragon. There is a movement among Sanford's adherents to comply with the call, in spite of the fact that the scripture referred to was so manifestly fulfilled hundreds of years ago. Italy is reported to be on the verge of a civil war as a result of the general strike of the Socialists. Collisions have taken place between the people and the soldiers. Two classes of the reserves have been called out to re-enforce the authorities. Crowds of people are stopping trains by lying down in front of the engines. A Genoa correspondent reports the situation throughout Italy as most serious. There is now on foot a movement the purpose of which is to establish a world clearing house for the benefit of banks doing an international business. This, it is held, would do away with the large shipments of gold from one country to another, which always occasion expense and considerable risk. The Commander-in-chief of the Japanese forces reports the following trophies taken by the Japanese after the battle of Liao Yang: 3,578 rifles; 7,356 rounds of artillery ammunition; 1,297,870 rounds of small-arm ammunition; and large quantities of timber, flour, rice, forage, and telegraph apparatus. A deported Colorado miner, under arrest in Topeka, Kans., for burglary, has confessed to complicity in the work of dynamiting the Vindicator mine and in blowing up the depot platform at Independence in June last. In both these outrages many non-union miners lost their lives. There is a movement in the French Chamber of Deputies to refer the question of the separation of church and state to a vote of the people. The movement is not favored by the premier, who claims that the municipal elections sufficiently show that the country approves his policy. A new development in Dowieism is reported from Chicago. Mr. Dowie and eleven of his followers have been proclaimed “Apostles of Jesus Christ.” They are to hear confessions of sin from other members of the sect, even as do the priests of Rome. The Zeigler relief expedition, sent out to search for the Arctic exploration steamer America, has returned to Norway, having failed to reach Franz Joseph Land, on account of the large quantities of floating ice and the early winter. The Paraguay revolutionists are concentrating their forces at towns parallel to the railway, and have cut off all supplies and communication with the capital. They are planning to make an early attack on the capital. The Secretary of the United States Treasury reports a deficit for the month of August amounting to $6,300,000. There was also a deficit for the month of July amounting to $17,400,000. Prince Herbert Bismark, eldest son of the famous “Iron Chancellor,” died at Friedrichsruhe, Germany, on September 18.