1900-1905] Chronology of Events 469 



1900 The foreign Ambassadors falsely reported to have been murdered 

 at Pekin, a Joint English, French, German, and Italian force is sent 

 to Pekin. Kaiser William announces it as a divine mission entrusted 

 to him by God. 



Pekin is stormed, and great atrocities are committed, especially by 

 the German troops. 



The King of Italy assassinated. 



Death of the Emir Mohammed Ibn Rashid, chief ruler of Nejd. 



Central Arabia revolts against his successor, who is defeated by Ibn 

 Saoud. 



The Hedjaz railway is built by the Sultan, connecting Damascus 

 with Medina, subscribed for throughout Islam. 



The Americans having made peace with Spain, continue to make 

 war with the Philippine natives. 



The Boer War continues under Botha, to the general scandal of 

 Europe. 



1901 Death of Queen Victoria. 



The Emperor William attends Queen Victoria's funeral. 



Arabi is pardoned by King Edward's intervention and returns to 

 Egypt. 



Intrigues in the Arabian Peninsula; guns secretly supplied to 

 Koweit and Nejd from India. 



1902 Methuen is defeated and taken prisoner by Delarey. 

 Peace of Pretoria. 



July. — Lord Salisbury resigns. He is succeeded by Balfour. 

 A defensive alliance signed between England and Japan. 



1903 The King assumes personal influence in foreign affairs. Hardinge 

 his chief adviser. 



Joan of Arc canonized. 

 War in Somaliland. 



The Khedive visits the King at Newmarket, and is entertained by 

 Cassel in London. 



Pope Leo dies. Is succeeded by Pope Pius X. 



1904 War between Russia and Japan. 

 Great financial speculations in Egypt. 



Gorst's quarrel with Cromer. He leaves Egypt. 



Anglo-French Convention assigning Morocco as her sphere of in- 

 terest to France, Egypt to England. It is signed by Balfour and 

 Lansdowne with Cambon, it being understood that nothing is to be 

 changed in Egypt's political status. 



Somaliland and Thibet evacuated. 



Oct. — The Dogger Bank incident. 



Cromer, confident of his popularity in Egypt, offers to withdraw 

 the Army of Occupation to Alexandria, but this is refused at the 

 War Office. 



1905 Germany protests against the Anglo-French Agreement about 

 Morocco, and demands a European Conference. 



Kaiser Wilhelm lands at Tangier. He promises his protection to 



