since the publication of the ukaz of April 17, 1905, quite a number of former Greek Catholics or "Greek Uniates," have entered into the Roman rite; and so in the interest of all these people the Russian government begged for the abrogation of this decree of the Holy Office. The Holy See has now consented to the withdrawal of this decree, and consequently has issued a new decree, dated November 29, 1906, allowing the use of the Russian language in such churches, which has been sent to all the Catholic diocesan authorities in Russia at the beginning of this year. This puts the Church in Russia on a better footing. Owing to the fact that the Catholic churches were considered in Russia as Polish institutions for the most part, the Latin rite was frequently alluded to as hostile to the Russian Empire and as a propagator of Latin ideas. The fact that the Poles in the past disturbances showed no desire for a revolution in the way of an independent kingdom, but rather to work out their destiny as an integral part of the Russian Empire, has produced quite a change of opinion.

The Oriental Church Supports Rome on the Separation Question.An eminent metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church who has expressed himself frequently and even lately as opposed to any union of the Greek and Roman churches, has totally modified his ideas. He says the Separation Law in France has opened his eyes to the danger of the present day, and continues, “It is evident now that the government has never wished to give France a sincere separation between Church and State. They desire rather to destroy the Christian religion there. War has not been declared merely against Rome but against the Cross. Even if we should admit the struggle as against the temporal supremacy of the Papacy, we cannot overlook that we carry in our midst the principle which they wish to destroy. Every blow struck at the Bishop of Rome strikes us equally. That is why I think that the Holy See and the French clergy should receive the encouragement and moral support of their brethren of the Eastern Church. We see the anti-Christian forces of the entire world now converging towards Paris; it now behooves all Christians to show a solidarity among themselves in the presence of a common peril. The Eastern Church should offer its hand to Rome."

In January statistics were published regarding the political repressions during the year 1906. They show that 1,252 persons were sentenced to death for political or revolutionary crimes, 2,029 were condemned to servitude in the mines, 186 were sent to Siberia for life, 5,945 were imprisoned for offences of various degrees, 563 newspapers were suspended, and 732 responsible editors were prosecuted. The paper publishing the figures makes no attempt to estimate the enormous number of persons administratively arrested.

On account of the repeated cases of successful resistance to the police in house searches, the new Prefect has ordered that raids, whenever possible, be made in daytime and by an adequate force equipped with bullet-proof cuirasses.

Heedless of the fate of his predecessors, the new prefect of police, Gen. Dracheffski, goes freely about the city and dines unguarded in well-frequented

restaurants.

ASIA.

Persia. With the first day of 1907, Persia became a constitutional monarchy. Under the new constitution the Persian Parliament is to have a House of Representatives consisting of 156 members and a Senate whose membership is sixty..

Mohammed Ali Mirza, the new monarch, who is in his thirty-fifth year, is, like his father, Muzaffar-ed-Din, a man of progressive ideas. The new Shah's political sagacity will have, among other problems to solve, that of preserving a friendly policy with Great Britain and Russia, and at the same time preventing the dominating influence of these two nations from expanding into general absorption.

Coronation of the Shah.-Mohammed-Ali-Mirza ascended the throne on January 10, 1907, and was crowned at Teheran January 20, with all Oriental splendor and in the presence of the members of the royal family, high functionaries, heads of the clergy and the Diplomatic Corps. The new Persian ruler was born June 18, 1872, was educated in Europe, and is said to be a keen, intelligent man, in sympathy, like his father, with the ideals of European civilization. But a few days had elapsed after his coronation when a conflict arose between the Shah and the new assembly in connection with the question of the attendance of the ministers at the assembly's sittings. An ultimatum demanding full recognition of the constitution was subsequently sent to the Shah by the Assembly. Assurances were two days later given that the Government had yielded to their demands, and that the revised constitution was agreed upon. According to this instrument the Assembly, or Lower House, is given control of all financial matters, including the power to negotiate local and foreign loans and commercial treaties as well as the control of companies for the construction of railroads and other public utilities. The administrative affairs of the provinces may be discussed, but not definitely acted upon by the Assembly. The tenure of the Assembly is subject to the will of the ministers and Senate. Its dissolution may be effected with the consent of the former and a twothirds vote of the Senate, which is composed of sixty members, one-half of whom are elected and the other half appointed to office. Special objection arose against the admission among the ministers of the cabinet of Mr. Naus, the Belgian Minister of Customs, on the plea of his being a foreigner. The Assembly claimed that he could only be accepted as administrator but not as a minister. Under date of February 11, the Assembly's fight with the government regarding Mr. Naus has resulted in his dismissal from his functions, as Minister of Customs and Ports.

China. The Governor of Nan-King and the Missionaries. From a recent letter sent to the Illustrated Catholic Missions by Father Bizeul, S.J., we learn that the Governor of Nan-King has just issued a decree

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whereby, contrary to the rights guaranteed to them, the missionaries may no longer acquire property, as in the past, but before buying are subjected to a series of procedures which place them completely at the mercy of the mandarins. "These measures and others which may be foreseen," writes Father Bizeul, are they not the natural outcome of the persecution now raging in France?" How can our government support us, if they drive us out of our country and confiscate our property?" The Chinese have their answer ready. Of course, this incident will call forth protests from the Powers (France, Germany, Great Britain), who are all interested in the maintenance of rights acquired with so much trouble. If the Powers do not strongly resist this first attempt at striking a blow at the treaty rights, how will they fare in the big struggle for which China is preparing herself and of which this dubious move is but one of the foreboding signs."

The Famine. The famine refugee camps cover an area two miles long and one mile wide. The number of refugees is about 450,000. Of these 30 per cent. show signs of distress and 10 per cent. signs of acute distress. Women and children are everywhere to be seen pulling up roots and grass for food and cooking leaves and twigs.

On the authority of Captain Kirton, sent out by the Relief Committee to investigate conditions prevailing at Sing-Kiang, some 300,000 destitute persons have been driven back to their homes in consequence of the outbreak of smallpox in the famine stricken camps. Most appalling scenes are being enacted along the line of retreat. According to the Echo de Chine, in the districts of Sinchow and Paichow many cases of cannibalism have been reported. In the absence of ordinary food, of even grass and roots, which have furnished food for many, starving people are eating their children or offering them for sale for from two to four dollars. It is estimated that a quarter of a million persons are likely to be doomed at SingKiang alone and 400,000 at Antung.

Chinese Reform.-According to the Shanghai correspondent of the London Times, the events and edicts since January, indicate that the activity of the Reform party has produced a strong reaction, with the result that the Conservative party controls the situation. The intention of the reform edicts is being ignored.

A Squall at Hong-Kong.-In consequence of a recent cloudburst of ten minutes' duration, more than fifty native vessels were wrecked at Hong Kong. The native casualties probably exceed one hundred.

Afghanistan.-The extensive tour through India by Ameer HabeelAllah, the Afghan ruler, and the enthusiastic welcome given him everywhere throughout India, are indications of a desire, both on the part of the Ameer and the Colonial Government in India, to promote better defined and more cordial relations between the two countries. Such an object, if it be attained, will be to the best interests of both India and Afghanistan. A strong Afghan kingdom, united by intimate ties with British India, is beyond any doubt of the utmost importance to the per

manent security of England's Asiatic Empire. But no such union can exist as long as there is the slightest suspicion in the mind of the Afghan Ruler that the Indian Government has some hidden design in refusing him, among other concessions, the coveted kingly title to which he lays claim in virtue of the "Dane" treaty.

If the Indian Government would, therefore, win the good will and confidence of the Ameer and dispel all suspicion in his mind as to its future policy regarding the Afghan State, writes Ameer Ali in the January issue of the Nineteenth Century, it should convince HabeelAllah that the two conceptions which have thus far played such an important part in the treatment of the Afghan problem and have done so much harm in the past have been forever discarded. One is the idea that as the Afghan State is a creation of the British Government, any deviation from the course marked out for its rulers by AngloIndian officials is tantamount to ingratitude and treachery. The other is that the Afghan character is innately treacherous and that, therefore, no trust can be reposed in Afghan promises.

Dutch East Indies.-Destruction of Simalu. According to a telegram from The Hague, a tidal wave has destroyed the southern coast of the island of Simalu, near Sumatra. The island, it appears, has nearly disappeared. The death roll probably amounts to 1,500.

Japan. The Government is devoting much attention to economic and peaceful developments. Though military and naval circles originally advocated an increase of armaments, they have agreed to postpone the defense policy until the finances are placed on a sound basis. The territories of Manchuria and Korea are each to be reduced by one division.

War Rumors.-The veiled threats of a resumption at no distant day of hostilities by Russia are giving Japan a great deal more concern than the injudicious talk in some quarters about the imminence of an Americo-Japanese war. The prevailing sentiment in Tokio is a strong disdain and contempt for that portion of the American press which entertains the idea of a war between Japan and the United States. It may be safely asserted that no country in the world is so desirous of peace as Japan.

AFRICA.

The Chinese in the Transvaal. The question of the repatriation of the Chinese laborers will play a considerable part in the elections under the new Transvaal Constitution. According to Sir Richard Solomon, the Ex-Attorney General, the real issue of the elections will be to decide whether the control of the Transvaal is to be given to the people or to the magnates. Experience had clearly taught, the Ex-Attorney General claimed, that Chinese labor as a permanent institution was opposed to the best interests of the colony. This attitude adopted by Sir Richard the Progressives consider as altogether irreconcilable with the Attorney General's previous attitude towards the native and Chinese question. The general impression is that Sir R. Solomon has com

pletely capitulated to the Boer leaders and can no longer be regarded as a possible leader.

East Africa. In a late issue of the Deutsche Revue, E. von Liebert admitted that according to our modern notions, the economic development of the East African colonies has been rather slow. Among other causes which have conspired, according to him, to retard the economic advancement of East Africa, are the vast extent of the colonies, their area being twice the size of the German Empire, the peculiar difficulty of bringing land under cultivation in the tropics, the heavy duties imposed on the coast nations, the burden of an expensive administrative organization, the restricted investment of German private capital, the refusal of means for the building of railroads, the saddling of the colony with a heavy military budget and with the yearly repayment of 600,000 marks on a loan by the German East African Company. After such a mass of political blunders, what has been achieved Mr. E. von Liebert considers ought to be regarded with satisfaction.

Whilst the cultivation of tobacco and coffee has proved a failure, that of sisal hemp, caoutchouc and cotton bears promise of an important future. Thus, in 1904, the export value of sisal hemp amounted to 572,000 marks; that of caoutchouc to 2,225,000 marks, with the certain prospect of further increase, whilst there is still a greater future promised for the cultivation of cotton. With the solution of the all-important labor and railroad problem, of the removal of the heavy military burden, of the reduction of the cost of administration and the clearing of the annual debt of 600,000 marks, East Africa will no longer, as it is claimed, be a financial drain on the Empire.

Morocco. According to a Franco-Spanish note recently sent to the Powers, the Moroccan Government has, it appears, finally decided to carry out the reforms so long demanded. In consequence, France and Spain having attained the object of their joint demonstration, have been able to withdraw their squadrons. Only one French and one Spanish guardship now remain at Tangier. Fears are entertained that Raisuli, who is still at large, is likely to become in future a greater danger than ever. Meanwhile, the Shereefian troops, who were to restore order in the Tangier district, are, it is reported, plundering innocent villages near Arzila, stealing cattle, burning houses and assaulting women. It is said that even Raisuli's men never committed such excesses. This is the way in which the Maghzen is restoring order in the districts of Tangier and carrying out one of the demanded reforms shortly after the withdrawal of the French and Spanish squadrons.

Congo. Under date of January 26th, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations ordered favorably reported the substitute for the Lodge resolution concerning the Congo Free State situation. The resolution merely advises the President that he will receive cordial support of the Senate in any steps he may deem it wise to take in co-operation with or in aid of any of the powers signatory of the treaty of Berlin.