mind had been inflamed against King George by the severe criticisms made
on the King by some of the more violent newspapers in Athens. He has
made a confession showing that a conspiracy was formed by a political
society against the King's life.

A dynamite-bomb was discovered by the police near the spot where the
shooting took place.

* * * * *

England has maintained her firm position with regard to her claims in
Western Africa. She has informed France most emphatically that she does
not propose to be interfered with there as she was by the French
colonists in Madagascar.

She has practically persuaded France to agree that she shall have
absolute control of the Niger River. This means that the river will be
kept open to the commerce of the whole world.

It is said that at first Monsieur Hanotaux, the French foreign minister,
did not believe that Lord Salisbury would maintain his position in the
matter, and that this belief encouraged him to send the French troops
into Western Africa. But, with the assistance of Mr. Chamberlain, who is
a shrewd diplomatist as well as a man of nerve, Lord Salisbury held
firmly to his point.

It is now known that the difficulties have been practically settled, and
that France, though she has secured some concessions, has practically
backed down in favor of England.

Nothing pleases the English more than to have their own way against the
French. The English and the French have been natural enemies for
generations. The feeling of the French toward the English is even more
bitter than their hostility to the Germans.

* * * * *

The Chinese loan, about which we have heard so many different reports,
has at last been definitely granted by a combination of English and
German capital. The loan has been described as "semi-private," but this
does not prevent it from being considered a distinct success for Lord
Salisbury's negotiations, though regret is naturally felt in England
that Germany should have a share in it. As a result of the loan, England
has secured new concessions from China, which greatly strengthen her
influence in Chinese territory and place her in a stronger position from
which to insist upon her policy of open ports.

The news comes by cable that China has agreed to allow the control of
the imperial maritime customs to be placed in the hands of a British
subject "so long as the British trade with China exc