New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-06
TOPICS IN PARIS.

POLITICS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
JULES FERRY ON THE TUEIsIAE COMPLICATIONS
HOW FRANCE WAS DECEIVED BY THE BEAcoNs-
FIELD ADN1SIsTRATION-THE PREMIER's PER-
sONAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTKR-INDo-
LENcE OF THE PREsDEST-GAMBErTAs M
CREAsING POWER IN ALL DEPARTMENTS or THE
GOVERNMENT.
lFRoN THR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rhnBUSk'l
PARIS, April 13-I had the advantage the other
morning Of an interview With the Prime Minister
NJ. Jules Ferry The subject Of our conversation
was Tunis, and il was he who started it. He began
by asking what England thought OF tho French
military expedition, and went on to express MS
establishment at the attitude Of the English Govern
mont OF this attitude he did not complain. A
bitter expression did not fall from his lips during
the half hour that I spent with him. The source OF
his wonderment was this: Monarchical Govern
ments receive credit all the world over for what
the French term esprt de suite or continuous, If not
traditional. policy. What they promised yesterday
it is supposed will be fulfilled tomorrow the next
day or even later if circumstances should be fairly
Propitious. Now, at the Berlin Conference, Lord
Salisbury in his long interviews there with Wad-
dington not only advised but pressed France TO
possess herself Of Tunis. He was ready TO defend
publicly any act taken in pursuance Of his advice
He thought that it would be for the advantage OF
Tunis and Of Europe also were the State under the
dominion OF the Bey to be annexed 10 Algeria.
Queen Victoria made journey into Italy to get
the Italian Government round TO the view taken by
Lord Salisbury. But this point NJ. Jules Ferry
said nothing The French Premier could not under
stand why Great Britain which is so forward to cut
up Turkey for tho benefit of Seryians, Bulgarians'
Greeks and Albanians, should grudgo Tunis TO the
French Republic and defend there the suzerainty Oh
the Porte. NJ Jules Ferry had not seen Sir Charles
Dixie as tho member for Chelsea passing through
theFrench Capital on his way to the South, ana ne
did not know that Lord Harrington was to spend
his Faster holidays in Paris.
The head Of the French Ministry is in the mcrid-
ian Of life. He is tall and finely built The coun-
tenance Is extremely prcposscssing and there is the
openncss of Southern Europe in his manners. His
grandfather was an ecclesiastic of Mentono, who
emigatcd TO Lyons three years before the Reyolu-
ton, and m 1898 lac cmancipatcd himself from ms
religious vows got married. and pushed on to the
Nosgrs where he fairly prospcrcd. The features oil
the French Prime Minister bear a distinct Lgurian
trace. NJ jules Ferry is not pulled mp by his great
elevation. He Is rs unaffected as when he was
young bauistcr and very accessible TO old friends
In the Chamber he has gained much influence since
hc succeeded NJ. do Frcycinet The last time ne
spoke there was on Tunis affairs. lie did 80 WIN
an air Of authority which was not marrcd by con-
ceit OF ups,art pride. But imagine he did not then
know that the Gladstone Ministry was not prepared
10 indorsc the bin signed by the one which went
before it NJ. jules Ferry was greatly exercised 20
think that Earl Granville should not follow IN lhe
wake Of the Marquis Of Salisbury. who had been
much moro forward and categorical in making
verbal promises than he had been in writing them.
| took tho liberty Of observing that bad NJ Wad-
tceI WOiIlN
have driven his Lorlshp TO put pen 20 paper aud
would have loft in the archives of the Ministry Tor
Foreign Affairs written proof that tho Beacons-
field Government had urged France 70 tako pos
session Of Tunis.
NJ jules Ferry avoided opening his mind on tho
question Of the S,7rhn De lvie. which few days
previously NJ Gambetta assured me would be car
rcd boy majority Of SO.
The President 81 the Republic has at last deter
mined 70 shake on dull sloth. His bcsettng sin Is
Incidence Parliament allows him, as 1t dld hae-
Mahon. 100000 francs year TO travol through
Franco. Tho heads Of the Executive, since the
establishment OF the First Empire, have made pro
grc..es often through tho country. Royal I'm
nerol mr. Presidential ruler gives FLIP TO proVln
cial towns by showing himself IN thom' lis pres
cncc has q dcccntralizing action. II draws away
blood frou'thc great rvc-ccntrc-Fars -"heFo II
I. concentrated and congcsted Grevy III under
stands this he has not since he has gone L" the
Elysce expended m much AZ q franc on traNclhhs
cxpcnses Loud calls are being made by pro'lhc'al
rotabilities for him 90 show himself The munici-
p,itcs of Brcst. Nantes and Clrrmont lin Auvergne
have invited him IN hc Easter holidays to visit
them n, has not set quite made mp his mind iu'
think hc sill soon make progress IN brittany
Uayrc also wants 20 Doe honorcd by his presence al
n local exhibition The fact Is that Incidence has
an excuse In the Presidents theory Of Government
and is therefore hard 20 conquer los those moinhcr'
of tho Cabinet who would try Co find 900 VI; "reVy
,ountcrpoi-e to the steadily increasing authority III
and out OF Parliament, of GanIhcta.