Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/461

 1899.] CHEONICLE. 37

24. The strike of textile workers at Briinn (Austria), in which 12,000 workmen were engaged, compromised after a struggle lasting two months ; the men obtaining a reduction of half an hour on an eleven hours' day, and an advance of 6d per week on their wages.

— The Public Safety Bill, which the Italian Ministry failed to pass through the Chamber, promulgated by royal decree, Parliament having been prorogued ad hoc. The Opposition newspapers criticising the action of the Government were seized and confiscated.

26. In the French Chamber, after a stormy debate, the Waldeck- Rousseau Ministry carried a vote of confidence by 263 to 237 votes.

— The Queen held a review of 14,000 troops at Aldershot, returning to Windsor the same evening.

— An International Congress of Women held in London opened at the Church-house, Westminster, under the presidency of the Countess of Aberdeen. Delegates from various colonies and foreign countries were present.

— The Italian General Giletta di San Giuseppe, who had been arrested as a spy, tried at Nice with closed doors, found guilty and sentenced to five years' imprisonment and 5,000 francs fine.

— In the House of Lords the clause of the London Government Bill admitting women to be elected councillors and aldermen rejected, on the motion of Lord Dunraven, by 182 to 68 votes.

— Serious rioting, arising out of dissatisfaction with the Budget proposals of the Ministry, took place in Valencia, Saragossa, Granada, and elsewhere, the military having in many cases to fire upon the mob.

27. At the Guildhall, London, " Beauty's Awakening," a masque of winter and spring, performed by the Art Workers' Guild, under the patronage of the Lord Mayor and Corporation.

— The difficulties met by the United States troops in the Philip- pines were such that General Otis requested reinforcements. The authorised strength of the Federal army, 65,000 men, having been reached, volunteers were called for, and 10,000 promptly offered them- selves.

28. Mr. Fischer, acting with the support of the Afrikander Bond, and President Steyn of the Orange Free State, visited Pretoria to mediate between the British and Transvaal Governments.

— The Italian Chamber, having resumed its sittings after a short prorogation, the action of the Ministry in promulgating the Public Safety Law by decree was warmly challenged, but eventually the Government motion to refer the decree to a committee was adopted by 208 to 138 votes.

— Serious disturbances took place in Brussels arising out of the Ministerial Franchise Bill. Rioting occurred in several parts of the city, and in one street a barricade had to be cleared by the military. About 100 persons were injured.

29. The naval and military sub-commission of the Peace Congress at the Hague reported that the Russian proposals for the limitation of armaments were unacceptable.