Show v RUSSIA AND CHINA Diplomatic Function Tantamount t Pledge of Alliance St Petersburg April 9The official Messenger says the following telegram was sent by Count Muravieff the Russian i Rus-sian minister for foreign affairs oh March 15 to M Pavloff the Russian charge daffaires at Pekin I By Imperial command you are charged to convey the following greeting greet-ing to the emperor of China I Is with sincere pleasure that we learned of the wise decision of your majesty in ordering the Tsung Li Ya men Chinese foreign office to sign the agreement for the cession to Rug l af rotp rR I siafl for her use of Port Arthur and Ta Lien Wan and also the railway concession connecting Port Arthur with Siberia To this agreement we attach great historical significance for it wilt doubtless serve to strengthen still more the ties of friendship which have ever existed between our powerful neighborIng neighbor-Ing empires and which so clearly correspond cor-respond in the Interests 1 the states With our whole heart we greet your majesty and wish you a prosperous reign 1 Pavloff on April 5 sent the following follow-ing dispatch to Count Muravieff In solemn audience today I was permitted per-mitted in distinction of all other audiences au-diences to ascend the steps of the throne in order to hand your telegram with my own hand to the emperor The emperor In receiving It arose from the throne read Its contents aloud and made a speech In which he said We are all extraordinarily grateful at the friendly telegram of his majesty The cordial friendship which has existed ex-isted for over 200 years between our states and which was lately once more affirmed by a treaty of alliance will now be still further strengthened The I sincere friendship and community of interests between the two states will conduce to the prosperity of these two nations I request you to communicate these words by telegraph to his Imperial majesty ma-jesty together with my hearty greeting greet-ing Second Trial of Zla Paris April 9It has been decided that the second trial of M Emile Zola resulting from the civil suits brought by the members of the Esterhazy courtmartial against the author damages dam-ages for libel being asked for will begin be-gin on May 23 In the assizes court of Versailles after the elections thus relieving re-lieving the government of the ambar rassment which would result from the affair becoming a political issue No Explanation of Order Dublin April 9The First battalion was today unexpectedly ordered sail for Haifa on April 24 This is an unusual un-usual assignment since the regiment only recently completed 15 years foreign service No explanation of the order I is given tveGadtne Gladstone Passed a Good Night London April 9Mr Gladstone passed a good night got up earlier than i usual and went for a walk during the afternoon I I I |