1903 ZIONIST CONGRESS AT BASLE war fleet to Turkish waters. This arrived on the 19th of August, but was withdrawn on the next day, at the urgent request of Turkey. It is an old game, thoroughly understood by both parties, for a European fleet to enter the Bosphorus to give the Sultan an excuse in the eyes of his subjects for yielding a point to the Powers. Whatever the arrangement made with the Russian fleet, it is certain, however, that the Macedonian patriots did not benefit. The Turks continued their massacres, and the patriots kept up their guerrilla tactics, hoping to provoke at last the intervention of the Powers. The massacre of Kishineff had given a new impulse to the Zionist movement among the Jews-the establishment of a Hebrew nation in a country of its own. At a Congress of Zionist leaders at Basle, Switzerland, late in August, it was announced that the British Government offered land in British East Africa along the newly opened Uganda Railroad, to the proposed colony. Acceptance was strongly urged by Israel Zangwill, the English author, and other prominent Zionists, but the proposition was rejected by the majority of the Congress as deviating from their one aim-the acquisition and settlement of the fatherland of the race, Palestine. October 8 was the date set by the treaty between Russia and China for the former to evacuate Manchuria. She did not comply with her agreement on the ground that her interests in the country were too great for her to withdraw her troops without certain guaranties which had not yet been granted by China. That she had gone on increasing these interests after her promise to evacuate, however, deprived even this flimsy excuse of any credence. Not only were the soldiers in possession not withdrawn from Manchuria, but on the 29th of the month Russian troops entered Mukden, the capital. Theodor Mommsen, regarded by many as the greatest PANAMA DECLARES ITS INDEPENDENCE 1903 historian of his time, died on November 1. In early life he held professorships at the universities of Leipsig, Zurich, and Breslau. From 1858 until his death he was professor of ancient history at the university of Berlin. Besides his monumental "Roman History," he wrote an almost numberless array of works. In politics Mommsen was an advanced Liberal, and, while a member of the Landtag, a bitter opponent of Bismarck. After long consideration the Colombian Senate had rejected the Panama Canal treaty with the United States on September 14, and approved on first reading a bill authorizing the Government to negotiate a new treaty. It was openly charged and tacitly accepted by all persons conversant with South American politics that the action of the Colombian Senate was simply a "strike" to gain more money, nominally for Colombia, but the usufruct of which would really be for the individuals representing the Government. Under these circumstances there was little reprobation for the high-handed measures taken almost immediately by the United States Government. Instigated by this country, on November 3 the State of Panama, that one of the United States of Colombia through which the route of the canal ran, declared its independence. A provisional government was established, and the Colombian troops in the State were peacefully deported to Cartagena, in the State of Bolivar. Several American vessels had been despatched to both sides of the Isthmus, and by the middle of the month the canal zone was thoroughly protected against any possible effort of the Colombian Government to reestablish its sovereignty. On November 6 the United States gave instructions to our consular representatives at the Isthmus to recognize the de facto authority. The position taken by Secretary Hay was, that the United States, by its treaty rights, had paramount control of Isthmian transit, and that this right ran "with the 1903 DEATH OF HERBERT SPENCER land," and hence we were at liberty to treat with whatever Government happened to be in assured possession. On November 7 Panama appointed M. Philippe Bunau-Varilla its diplomatic agent at Washington. On the following day Colombia lodged a protest with the United States Government against its recognition of the rebellious State. This protest was ignored, and on November 13 the United States practically recognized the new Republic by receiving M. BunauVarilla as its duly accredited Minister-Plenipotentiary to the United States. A few days later France accorded Panama a like recognition. On the 18th Secretary Hay and Minister Bunau-Varilla signed a treaty which gave the United States all the jurisdiction requisite for the control and operation of the canal over the district through which the water-way would run, a strip of land six miles wide, commonly known as the Canal Zone. For these privileges the United States agreed to pay the Republic of Panama a lump sum of $10,000,000, and beginning nine years later, an annual payment of $250,000. The Colombian officials were panicstricken by these quick and energetic measures. They offered the United States Government full and free control of the canal zone upon the condition that it would refuse to confirm the alliance with Panama. These offers were refused. On November 27 the United States Minister at Bogota formally notified the Colombian foreign minister of the recognition by the United States of the Republic of Panama. On December 2 the canal treaty was ratified by the Government of Panama, and on the 13th elections were ordered to take place in the coming January for delegates to a convention to form a constitution for the new Republic. On December 8 Herbert Spencer, the English philosopher, died at the age of 83. For over fifty years Mr. Spencer devoted himself to the appalling task of revising and synthe sizing the whole sphere of philosophy in accordance with the |