The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-29 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

TWO IRRITATING QUESTIONS SETTLED.
On Saturday afternoon Mr. Egerton, the British I
Chargé d'Affaires, informed M. Flourens that the
settlement of the Suez Canal and New Hebrides ques-
tions had become definitive between the English and
French Governments. M. Flourens and Mr. Egerton,
after comparing the texts of the new Conventions,
agreed to meet on Monday for the purpose of ex-
changing ratifications. This result is a matter of
hearty congratulation to both countries. It will
serve for one thing to bring the English name in
higher favour throughout this country than it has ever
stood since the unfortunate Egyptian question was
first opened. I feel sure, says a Paris correspon-
dent, that many who attacked England were doing so
reluctantly and for the sake of preserving an appear-
ance of consistency. France, from her position to-
wards Germany, is anxious to keep on the best terms
ith the rest of the Powers, and most of all, after
Russia, with England; but while the alliance with
the former was brought about by a temporary
merest in joining against a possible common foe, the
desire for preserving cordial relations with England
arises, apart from the strong ties of trading interests,
from the high mutual regard in which the educated
classes (I can speak with knowledge as regards the
French) hold one another. The immediate effect of
the two Conventions, so greatly do they flatter the
national pride, will be to remove all trace of the
recent sore feeling towards us, and I might almost
add metaphorically to throw the French into our
arms by bringing about a revulsion of feeling in a
sensitive, although at heart a generous people. The
Temps, speaking of the Conventions, says: "They
afford full satisfaction to French interests, while bear-
ing evidence, we are happy to say, of the good under-
standing that exists between our country and Great
Britain."
The settlement of the Nis; Hebrides question con-
firms the pledges given by France and England in
1878 and 1883. On January 15th of the first men-
tioned year the Due d'Harcourt, then Ambassador in
London, writing to Lord Derby on the subject of the
excitement of the Australians at the report of the
seizure by the French of the New Hebrides, said :
'Although attaching but little importance to this
movement of opinion, my Government wishes to
declare that it has no intention of destroying the in-
dependence of the New Hebrides, and it would be
happy to learn that her Majesty's Government on its
side is also disposed to respect it." To this Lord
Derby replied that the English Government had no
intention of movirg in Parliament any nner.sure in
siew of altering the then independent condition of
the islands. In virtue of the new Convention, it is
agreed that the police of the New Hebrides will be
done by men-of war of both countries. Orders will
therefore be sent for the French military posts to be
svacuated. In return, the Convention of June 19th,
1887, relative to the non-intervention of France ia
islands of Raichea, Bora Bora, and Huaheine, belong-
' lag to the Tahitian Archipelago, is abrogated, and the
French sovereignty over them is recognised.