New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-25
TIE AyGLn.FREYCH TREATY.

The prospects Of the Anglo-Frc CONNER
cial Treaty have sensibly improved since the
accession of tho Gambettist Ministry. Sir
Charles Dixie and his associates nrc no longer
dealing with Cabinet whose days are mum
bcred, but with n responsible Premier who has
compact and seemingly stable majority be-
hind him. The new Minister of Commerce Is
an avowcd Free Trader, and while the Pre-
mier's views on economic questions have never
been uncquivocally expressed, his sympathies
are with the leaders of public thought in Eng
land. The French Ministry will be personally
predisp0sed to negotiate a treaty. They know
that they cannot form any diplomatic alliance on
the Continent. The three military Empires are
practically united in all matters Of European
policy, and Italy has skilfully made her
way into the group. France cannot turn
away from the only efficient ally that re-
mains. The renewal of the commercial com
pact would bind together two rich aud
powerful industrial States, and make them
close political allies in Europe. 1t would
be regarded by the French people as a brilliant
stroke of public policy, and if followed by a
permanent adjustment of the harassng qucs-
ton of joint control in Egypt, would add ma
terially to the prestige Of the Ministry. The
Premier, having reserved for himself the port
folio Of Foreign Affairs will bo personally in
tercsted in scoring striking diplomatic successes
such as these would be. He will be anxious TO
strengthen the position OF France abroad, and
| London seems to be the only capital where he
can make any advance in that direction.
Gambetta would be raw and inexperienced
| Premier if he should define the attitude of the
Ministry on this question without first testing
the feeling of the newly elected Chamber of
| Deputies. He must knew that there is no evil
dence that Free Trade has gained ground in
| France since Mr.. Golden negotiated his treaty
with the Empire. On the contrary, there are ex-
ccllcnt reasons for thinking that the Protec-
ZIONIST feeling has made actual progress during
rhc last twenty years. Ii would, therefore. be q
political blunder for the Premier TO miscalcu-
| late the force of the economic preferences of d
body of Deputies who have come fresh from
| the people. French deputies however, have
vet TO learn to think deeply on economic ques-
TONS Their constituents do not hold them 10
a strict account in such matters. Many of then
are Free Traders from sentiment rather than
conviction, and not a few are PrOtecti0nsts foi
| no better reason than Theirs used to giyc-ht
! liked TO see the tall chimneys smoke 1t doe,
not .ecm probable that the Deputies will allow
any scruplcs they may have respecting eco
monte policy to stand in the way of positive dip
lomatic advantages 10 be secured through Il re-
newal OF the Commercial Treaty.
French Protectionists moreover, viii no
necessarily sacrifice their principles by consent
ing 10 the continuance of the compact wit!
Great Britain. On the contrary, as the lcadin,
English journal has repeatedly admitted, it i
the Free Trading nation which condemns itsel
to an illogical position IN entering into sucl
arrangements, for commercial treaty is IA VIC
lation of Free Trade and not of Projections
principles. ave have begun" says that jour
nal "to sec that the injury VIC did ourselves b.