The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-28 00:00:00

THE SUEZ CANAL SCHEME.

The following letter addressed by M. de Lesseps to
Mr. Gladstone on the 20th inst., has been pub-
lished :

"My dear and Honourable Friend, —You are aware
with what cordial loyalty the Suez Board of Adminis-
tration, and the representatives of the Government of
the Queen on that Board, have devoted themselves
unceasingly, up to the present time, within the limits
of the law, to the legitimate interests of the share-
holders and the clients of the universal maritime
canal. This constant ace( rd has just been embodied
in a written agreement, which gave to this two-fold
interest such just rights as were permitted on the
one hand by the obligations of a company enjoying an
exclusive monopoly for 99 years of constructing a
maritime canal in the Egyptian Isthmus, and on the
other hand, of the shipowners whose fleets make use
of the work accomplished after so much outlay and
such great efforts. This agreement, examined and
concerted with the Ministers of the Queen, aimed at
giving effect to the principal objects of both parties by
securing within the shortest possible term the construc-
tion of a maritime road, parallel to the present one,
and by holding out a prospect of reductions of
rates in conformity with the promises solemnly
made at a former time to the shareholders and ship-
owners. In France public opinion for the past has
unanimously applauded this accord, but in Englandiit
appears to me that a section of public opinion, which
has perhaps judged hastily, has not understood the
whole bearing of the equitable arrangement which has
been arrived at, and the result has been unpleasant
discussions between two friendly nations ; discussions
which, I fear, may prejudice deeply and for a long
time the necessary sentiments of strong friendship
which have united the two peoples. I should personally
be much grieved if a work of peace, executed in Egypt,
with French capital, in the interest of universal
commerce, should become a motive of discord, and if
Europe were to witness the development in the English
Parliament, and under your Liberal Ministry, of an
error of judgment fatal to right. In the interest of
general peace and in the intlrest of the Franco-
English alliance indispensable to the civilization of the
world I ask you not to consider yourself bound to-
wards myself by the terms of the agreement we have
signed. Our board of administration possesses, by
the Statutes of the Company, sufficient powers to
decide upon the construction of a second maritime
road, and to settle the dues to he levied; and our
shareholders are in a position to furnish the means for
cutting a second canal.
-

"Consequently, regard it as expressly understood
that if our agreement be suspended, or even with-
drawn, the construction of a second maritime canal
will be immediately carried out, and all the reductions
of dues, foreshadowed in that agreement, will be en-
forced, and we shall continue in undisturbed peace as
hitherto, and in accord with the tepresentatives of the
Queen's Government on the board, to work and
improve the maritime canal, in accordance with the
exigencies of a work made to remain available for the
fleets of all nations without exclusion or favour, ac•
cording to the terms of our concession,
"Accept, my dear and honourable friend, the ex-
pression of my affectionate sentiments and my high
esteem. (Signed) FERDINAND DE LESSEPS "

As an illustration of the wide interest existing
throughout the world in the speech of the Premier in
the House of Commons on Monday night it may be
mentioned that more foreign telegrams were de-
spatched from the office within the House than on
any occasion that can be recalled. Messages were
principally despatched to Paris, Vienna, Constanti-
nople, St. Petersburg, Italy, Holland, and Belgium.

The Daily News says :—With reference to the
alternative scheme of the Palestine Channel, we
understand that a sum of £lO,OOO is being raised to
defray the expenses of sending out competent engineers
for the purpose of making the necessary surveys for
the proposed new channel. The scheme is to utilise
the Great Ravine of the Jordan as a navigable marine
highway between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
The Duke of Sutherland is chairman and Admiral
Inglefield is vice•chairman.

Writing on Tuesday night, the Paris Correspondent
of the Daily News says :

I saw M. de Lesseps today. He had before him a
pile of telegrams from London, printed papers and
translations of articles from English newspapers. He
did not appear in any way to regret having released Mr.
Gladstone from the convention, nor was be glad. He
had acted reasonably, he believed, all through, and
honestly as well. He had dealt with intelligent
and honest men, who had a wider area of observation
to go upon, and great special and general knowledge.
They thought equity the best policy, as he thought
reason would eventually best serve the interests of the
shareholders. I asked did he think negotiations on
the same basis as those he and his son Charles had
opened in London would be resumed. His answer
was "Never. We have been driven to steer a new
coune, and will not abandon it. There will soon be a
eeneral meeting of the shareholders. I shall tell
them to take a high and just view of the affair, and
that the company should therefore make a point of
doing nothing to render their position difficult. They
should try to have the whole world and its best
men with them, and the way to obtain this support
was in putting away narrow, unintelligent selfish-
neis. England would be with them against the
financing and shipbroking rings if they did not
abuse the rights conferred by Said Pacha." I
asked M. de Leeseps what about the suggestion
to give lectures in the different European capitals."
"I shall not (he replied) act on it, because there is no
necessity. lam already sure not only of the entire
sum I want being subscribed here in France, but three
times more."
"And do you think your original title to land in the
Isthmus will relieve you from the necessity of again
applying to the Khedive for a fresh grant ? "
"I have enough of space," he said, "to make a
parallel canal, with a narrow strip of ground between.
The existing Canal is very much within the breadth
which I had at first intended to make it. In fact, I
secured myself so wide a margin, that I can dig a
parallel waterway of exactly the same breadth wiLh-
out infringing on the Khedive' d rights."
"When do you think the second canal will be
finished?"
"In about three years. I have everything ready—
the engineers, the machines, and everything I want."
M. de Lesseps spoke hopefully of Panama, au d said
the new machines were getting admirably through
their work.

Vegetarian diet has been impugned—without C 9.1.1116,
however. A good and sustaining dinner may be made
of two thick slices of bread and butter—with a pound
of rump.Eteak between.—Fun.
Mr. Samuelson intends before the close of the pre-
sent bessi(nl of Paliament to propose a tied/ standing
order with the view of enabling Chambers of Com-
merce or Agriculture and similar bodies to appear as
opponents of any railway bills which in the matter of
rates and fares may be considered injuriously to affect
the localities represented by snob chambers,