The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-06-22
LATE dispatches indicate that English

LATE dispatches indicate that English for
attitude, and that scientific frontiers and
chrome islands-like Cyprus be abandoned
This historic:z4-and malarial-island will be
given to the Greeks, and British oversight Of
Armenia sbe given to whosoever may want it.
English Tories sarcastically recommend that
Malta be given to Italy for the repeal of the
duty On calico, and that Gibraltar be traded
to Spain for favoring commercial treaty.
Concurrent with this sentiment, Or gossip, is
the attitude of indignant speculation over the
Tunisian matter, which has for week or
two been gathering into perfect storm over
what its press is pleased to call French du-
plicity, until the expression has become al
most warlke. They berate their Gallo
neighbors for becoming the tool OF Bismarck
and working into German hands by antagon-
izlng ENGLAND and Italy. They have almost
forgotten the treaty which Disraeli and Lord
Salisbury made with both Russia and
Turkey, in which the programme that was
to be carried out at the Berlin Congress was
definitely settled before the Congress had
met, and which made Of the Congress per
feet farce. 1t was engaged that Russia
should have what she specially wanted, and
that England should take Cyprus and the
guarantee of Armenia. NJ Waddington, the
French minister Of Foreign affairs, was also
admitted to slice, and that slice was Tunis
which Beaconsfeld afterwards Withdrew.
leaving France TO get it outside Of the treaty
if she could. France has taken it upon her
self to take Tunis by force OF arms, and now
England raises the hue and cry of ''duplicity.''
The real fact is, France is getting into dan
gerous proximity to Egypt and the Suez
canal, and English fears are getting aroused
for the sskey to India, and not, as is claimed
by the English press, through humanity for
the poor Tunisian people, who are brought
thus ruthlessly into servitude by savage
Frenchmen
There is no doubt of the French tendency
IN the direction Of Egypt, nor that the fear
Of England for its safety from such ssrapaci-
ty has good foundation, for French infu-
ence in Egypt has been steadily pushing the
British out Of the channels Of trade and profit
and it is very likely that this influence is
fostered by Bismarck, for it is in the direction
Of his policy, and cannot be opposed
to the future policy Of France. France is
neither ready nor anxious for war with Ger
many and Germany is conscious that she
cannot repeat the military operations Of II.
The power that Germany most fea rs, and
has reason to fear, is Russia. The French
in Tunis, and her preponderance
IN Egypt means jealous oversight from her
Of Russia pretensions in the Levant-
which, If carried to q successful
issue, would be the destruction Of German
England, as military fac
Tor in any possible complication on the con-
tinent, is practically out Of the field, and
could render but little assistance to an allied
war upon Russia, while France with her vast
military establishment if she had no inter-
est ii common to protest from Russian ag-
erosion, would prove q dangerous, if not
element, and It is obviously to the
interest Of Germany to see France situated
where her interests will be involved by Rus
sian pretensions, ind France has apparent