New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-14

those whom she has so long opposed. NJ. de Lesseps
was not content with saying tins to whoever APP
preached him. He sat down and wrote circular 10
the canal shareholders, embOdying these opinions In
the painest terms. thus: 4" consider it happy &C.
currence this strong solidarity which is about to be
established between French and English capital
purely for the industrial and necessarily pacific
working of the Universal Maritime Canal" Another
sentence in this letter may be taken as cQnfirma-
ton of the story about previous negotiations with
the English Government for the purchase OF the
canal conformity with other Powers. To-day" says
NJ. de Lesseps, the English nation accepts Ill the
canal company the fact which had loyalty been re-
served fol- il from the commencement, and II tins
act is to have result il only be, in my opinion,
the remuneration on the part OF the British Govern
ment of an attitude which has for long time been
hostile to the interests of the original shareholders
The French press continues the discussion III its
first tone of suppressed sptefulness. Ii Is little to
the credit of the opposition papers-OfM NJ. Gambettas
paper in particular-that it should seek to make
party capital out of the matter. The Foreign Minis
ter is called OH to resign lie was perfectly power
less to prevent the purchase to have bought the
canal himself The explicit statement of NJ. Dsrvien,
published yesterday in Paris proves that the refusal
of the shares was offered to French capt.
talists so long ago as Nov. IL. 1t is certain
that the Government knew they were In the
market, and equally certain that the Government
was in no position, financially or politically to buy
them. financial writer, NJ. Leroy Beaulieu, has
published an article bIstling with figures to prove
that England has made foolish bargain-among
other things that she cannot vote on her shares
The notion that England will not manage to have
voice in the councils of the Company is childish and
needs no refutation. The decisive answer to all
financial criticism is that shares have risen nearly
cir, flap
From st. Petersburg we are still without news,
and the first indication Of Russian opinion may be
expected from Berlin where Prince Gortschakofi is
consulting with Prince Bismarck The Russian
organ at Brussels, the Nord, while commenting on
the action of England with considerable acrimOny,
does not believe that the event can compromise the
peace of Europe. The MoScOp Gdtefte-not an Official
papcr-s quoted as saying that England shonld not
be allowed to ensc0nce herself unchalenged III po-
sition of such political and commercial Importance
among nations. From ConstantinOpe comes re-
port that the Sultan has dispatched strong remon-
STRANGE to the Khedive, but the Khedive Will
hardly be kept awake o nights by anything That
can now come from bis nominal master
now more nominal and less really master than ever.
He has two millions already in his pocket. and is to
have two more in January which is exactly four
millions more than the Sultan could borrow from
afirms that in Constantinop!e the purchase of the
Khedyes interest in the Suez Canal has caused the
greatest considerations that the Sultan has ordered
a committee to be appointed for the inspection OF
the army, and to make preparations for war, and
that the forts the BOsphOrOus and the forts ana
harbOr batteries at Crete are being armed with
Krupp guns. But, as often has occasion To re-
mark, Vienna kilograms are to be read cautiously.
The tone of part of the Berlin press seems less
friendly than it at first; the change being
most remarkable in the National Zetung, journal
which may claim to he the organ of the Parlia-
meniary majority. Evidently, says this paper,
England will not long consent to remain the chief
shareholder in a concern administered in Paris. Evil
IDENTIFY the rest of the world will not allow the ques
ton of its most important highway to be settled by
exchange and barter. With the Suez Canal
stronghold and refuge England need fear one rival
only IN the MedteIrlnean-namely, q strong pos
SCISSOR of the DardaneIles." All which is explained
by the remark that England's policy hitherto 81 has
been estranged, at least in appearance, from that
which has arisen in Europe from the transformation
of Germany, and the present step shows coniinu-
ance Of the same tendency;' and by the expression
of hope that the state of things commented upon
was apparent only, and that an understanding may
be come to with England agreeable TO the policy of
peace and equilibrium represented by Germany and
her allies.
The English-or the German-of this is that it is
an act of presumption on she part of England to
take such resolution without having previously
consulted Germany and obtained her consent Talk
of that kind has long prevailed in Berlin 1t is
likely perhaps to less prevalent In future On the
whole, the latest phase Of continental opinion may
be described as little rescntful but by no means
meuacing. With time to get used to the spectacle
Of England once more asserting her European posi-
ton. the continent will find reasons enough for
ceptng the change-perhaps even for rejoicing in
the reappearance of the English star above the hori
z0n. G. W. S.