Hungary to its neighbors. He openly acknowledged that during the recent crisis sentiments hostile to the Monarchy existed, not only among the Balkan States, but also among the great Powers. The development of the situation, however, had removed many causes of misunderstanding, and had not only decreased the causes of friction, but had led to an agreement which will have a favorable influence in the future. The Triple Alliance is declared to remain in full force and vigor, the great safeguard of the peace of Europe. With Italy the coöperation is particularly close, owing to their common interests in Albania. With the Balkan States a new era of closer economic friendly relations is, it is hoped, about to be opened. The territorial expansion of the Monarchy in the Balkans, the Count declares, was terminated by the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The withdrawal of the Trieste Decrees, which followed shortly after Count Berchtold's statement, has convinced the Italian people that the good will towards Italy which Austria-Hungary professes is really felt.

Italy.

One of the most gratifying features of the general election which recently took place, was the defeat in the first and fourth divisions of Rome of the candidates who belonged to what is called the Bloc. This Bloc had made the Roman municipality practically a Freemason corporation. In politics it was to a large extent Republican, and was almost as much antimonarchical as anticlerical. Two-thirds were aliens by birth-that is to say, Neapolitans, Sicilians, Piedmontese, and other provincials. Signor Nathan, the Syndic, was half an Englishman. Above all the Bloc was anticlerical. With considerable reluctance the municipality accepted the verdict of condemnation passed upon it, and gave in its resignation. A Royal Commissioner has been appointed until another election can be held.

The Deputies of the new Chamber are classified in the following way under the genus Liberal, as this is claimed by all: Constitutional Ministerialists, 291; Constitutional Opposition, 22; Constitutional Independents, 5; Catholics, 24; Radicals, 70; Republicans, 16; Socialist Reformists, 23; Socialists Proper, 51; Syndicalist Socialists, 3; Independent Socialists, 3; making a total of 508. The majority of Signor Giolitti is 291 to 217, and it is considered to ensure his safety, for on no conceivable question could the 217 which make up the opposition be brought into agreement.

No little stir has been caused by the disclosure made after the elections, that no fewer than two hundred and forty-eight of the successful candidates had received the support of Catholics because they had accepted the six-fold programme which Count Gentiloni, the head of the Catholic Electoral Union, had made the condition of that support. The pledge which he required of a candidate was that he would support no legislation directed against the Catholic religion or Church, that he would be in favor of religious education, and that he would not help to bring in a bill for divorce. As on three hundred and thirty elections the non expedit was suspended, this gave to Catholics a good opportunity to exert their strength. Rather indiscreetly Count Gentiloni published the names of the new members who on these conditions had acccepted Catholic support. This has led to a number of denials, and the Socialists are crying out at the existence of a vast clerical plot which is a menace to their liberties. A "concentration to the Left" has become the political watchword of which they stood so much in need.

The Balkans.

The war which was looked upon as in the highest degree probable between Turkey, with Bulgaria as an ally, on one side, and Greece on the other, has been averted. This was due to the diplomatic intervention of Rumania, which is at the present time the most powerful of the Balkan States. Not that she deserves this position, for she did nothing against the common enemy, thereby maintaining her own strength unimpaired, and taking advantage of the weakness of Bulgaria to deprive her of a considerable strip of territory. How long the peace will last is doubtful; the same paper which contained the news of the ratification of the treaty, published a telegram from the Dardanelles announcing the arrival there of a body of Turkish troops, which were to be quartered there for the winter. This was looked upon as confirmatory of the prevailing belief that the war would be renewed in the spring. A treaty with Servia adds to the long list of these instruments. Montenegro and Albania are now the only Balkan States that have not in this way resumed regular relations with Turkey.

Very little progress has been made in the settlement of the other outstanding questions. How the Ægean Islands are to be divided is now being discussed. Turkey, Greece, and Italy are claimants, the latter, so far as is known, not avowedly, but by an

actual possession which she shows every sign of making permanent. The question is left by the Treaty of London to the Powers for settlement. The exact delimitation of the southern boundary of Albania has been put off to the spring. A Prussian officer has been found willing to make the attempt to rule over the Albanians as their king. He has been made in Germany, being a member of the House of Wied, one of the mediatized families. As he is a Protestant, it is very doubtful whether he will find a single coreligionist among his subjects, three-fifths of whom are Moslems, and the rest either Catholics or Orthodox. The Constitution has yet to be made. It will be interesting to see how Prince Henry of Wied will execute authority over tribes that from times immemorial have never really submitted to any control.

The rumors that have been in circulation that King Ferdinand was going to abdicate the throne of Bulgaria, have not been verified, although there is reason to think they were not entirely without foundation. As more facts come to light, the conduct of Bulgaria in bringing on the second Balkan war is seen to be more defensible than was thought at first, although, even yet, it cannot be fully justified. Great blame attaches to General Savoff, the Bulgarian Commander-in-Chief in the first war against the Turks. He seems to have disregarded the commands of his own government, and to have attacked the Greeks in defiance of its orders. The chief cause of the disastrous termination of the second war must be laid at the door of the Russian Tsar. He was displeased with King Ferdinand for having refused, in a somewhat curt way, his proffered mediation. In consequence, he gave to Rumania the permission, which he had hitherto withheld, to invade Bulgaria—an event which decided the conflict.

The International Commission which has been investigating the charges and counter-charges of cruelty, has presented a summary report. It finds that the soldiers of every state engaged in the wars, were guilty of gross crimes against the civilized usages of warfare. The Bulgarians were the most guilty, although they had the magnanimity to give every facility for the investigation, a thing which Servia refused to do. Certain private letters of Greek soldiers which fell into the hands of the Bulgarians, have been published, which show that if the Greeks were not the worst, the worst must indeed be beyond description. The authenticity of these letters has been both denied and re-affirmed.

China.

China remains in name a Republic, but for the time being is being ruled by a dictator. Yuan Shih-kai secured his election as President before the Constitution had been made, although that portion which defined the powers of the President was settled, at least on paper, before his election. No sooner, however, had he obtained power than he silenced the opposition in a more effective manner than Count Tisza has done in Hungary, although he has not gone quite so far as General Huerta in Mexico. Yuan Shih-kai was elected President on the second of November; on the fourth he issued mandates, in which he denounced the democratic opposition party, which goes by the name of the Kuo Ming Tang, ordered its dissolution, and deprived its members of their seats in Parliament. Nearly four hundred members were affected by these decrees, and as a result the whole of the Parliamentary opposition to the wishes of the so-called President was swept away, and he was left to mould the Constitution, which has still to be framed, according to his own good pleasure. His action was of course totally unconstitutional. The pretext alleged was that the members of the Kuo Ming Tang had been guilty of complicity in the recent rebellion. But there was not even the pretense of a trial, nor was any opportunity offered for defence. The real reason was that the organization stood for making Parliament the depositary of power, whereas Yuan Shih-kai wished the President to be supreme. Foreign opinion justifies his action as necessary in the chaos that now exists in China as the only means of maintaining order, in the same way as General Huerta is recognized by every country except our own on the same plea.

Not many days had passed, however, when the President took further and still more drastic action. His former decree had left so few members of Parliament that a quorum could not be formed. Yuan Shih-kai accordingly, by a further decree, suspended Parliament altogether. The government is to form an administrative conference, consisting of seventy-one members, to act until, at some undetermined date, Parliament is reorganized, or able to resume its settings. What is to be the business of this nominated conference has not yet been disclosed, although the discussion of the budget, the reorganization of the National Assembly, and the drafting of a constitution are mentioned as within the scope of its functions. All, however, is to be according to the good pleasure of Yuan Shih-kai. It is thought probable that Manchus will be made.

members of this new authority, and it is looked upon as certain that there will be included no Young Chinese. The latter are held to have thoroughly demonstrated their complete incapacity.

It is evident from the actions of the President, that he looks upon himself as the teacher and guide of the nation, not as its mouthpiece and voice. Students of the address delivered by him at his inauguration might have foretold what was coming. In it he declares that it is his conviction that the fundamental principle of governance consisits in a clearly defined system of administration, and in the strengthening of the cardinal principles of morality. It is when these have been attained, that the time will have come to take in hand the promoting of the progress of the masses. It is for this reason that he has aimed at producing gradually such reforms as would make for public enlightenment. When, however, the President claims credit for having preferred conservative to extreme measures, one may well wonder what in his eyes would be

an extreme measure.

The Republican form of government, he declares, is that which China possessed four thousand years ago. This form, however, presupposes a respect for morality, and a law-abiding habit on the part of the people; and this is just what the Chinese people lack. He has himself met with so much opposition that sleep and appetite have deserted him. The President then proceeded to give a long homily on morality, declaring that it consisted in the four characters: loyalty, trust, steadfastness, and sobermindedness. George Washington is cited as the example of trustworthiness, inasmuch as, when a lad, owing to his father's discipline, he never told a lie. The President concluded his address by saying: "I solemnly pledge myself to make those four words my own ideal, and to impress them on my countrymen. I declare solemnly that so long as I remain President so long will I perform my duty."

The declaration that he recognized as binding all the treaties made by former Chinese governments with foreign countries, and the privileges bestowed on their citizens, as well as all contracts entered into with foreign firms, together with his acknowledgment of the dependence of China upon foreign capital for its development, has secured the good will and friendship of those countries. The utmost aim of modern diplomacy in its present stage of development is the maintenance of the law and order which are necessary for trade and commerce. It has been rumored that it is the purpose of the President to declare Confucianism to be the established religion