Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/430

6 24. The Plasterers' Union called out their men to strike against three building firms which refused to compel their foremen to become members of the union. It was believed that this would lead to several other strikes in other branches of the building trade.

— Two members of the Belgian Cabinet, M. de Smet de Naeyer, Minister of Finance, and M. Nyssens, Minister of Industry and Labour, resigned in consequence of a disagreement with their colleagues on a bill for reorganising the electoral system.

25. Mr. A. J. Balfour addressed a letter to a constituent suggesting as a private individual that the Irish Catholic University question might be solved by the establishment of two new universities—one in Dublin for Irish Roman Catholics, and one in Belfast for Presbyterians and Protestants.

— The German Emperor paid a visit to Hanover to hold a review of the Hanoverian regiments. Previous to the parade a Cabinet order was read declaring that the Prusso-Hanoverian regiments formed in 1866 would be designated as the continuation of the old Hanoverian regiments, whose anniversaries they would celebrate.

26. A great federal demonstration held in Melbourne to celebrate the 111th anniversary of the foundation of Australia.

— The session of the Finland Diet opened at Helsingfors by the Governor-General, who in his speech to the Four Estates declared that although the law of military service must be made uniform throughout the empire, the statutes would be submitted to the Diet.

27. A plot to assassinate the Sultan at Constantinople revealed by one of the conspirators to the police, who by precipitately arresting four persons gave warning to others to escape.

— At Vienna a violent scene took place in the gallery of the Reichsrath. Herr Kramcarz, a leading Czech member's speech having provoked applause from a journalist's box, Herr Wolf, the Pan-Germanic leader, rushed into the gallery, and a free fight ensued, which brought the sitting to an end.

— At the Seine Assize Court the action brought by Mme. Henry against M. Reinach for libelling her deceased husband adjourned until after the pronouncement of the Court of Cassation on the Dreyfus affair.

28. The Pope received in audience at the Vatican the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and their two daughters.

— At Washington Commissary-General Eagan convicted by court martial of insulting General Miles, and sentenced to dismissal.

— Mr. T. Ellis, the senior Liberal Whip, issued a circular calling the members of the party to meet "to consider the future conduct of public business on the retirement of Sir William Harcourt."

— The Prussian and Imperial Governments took up from the Deutsche Bank 200,000,000 marks at 3 per cent., to be issued to the public at 92.