, 1881-05-15
THE CLOSE OF THE FRANCo-TuN1sIAN
WAR

+ ! L0IEU l41l4Ou5 Ol uUE5Ga uIKQL Or GIY.
-.
THE CLOSE OF THE FRANCo-TUN1s1A1
, WAR.
: : The war between France and Tunis, if
can be called war, is already at an end, AM
4 review Of the furry Is in order. From tn
first step to the last, the French, both from
the diplomatic and military points Of view
have managed their campaign with consum
mate brilliancy, promptness, and dash. ant
their record stands out in bright contrast with
the wretched work Of the British Govern
1nent in the Transvaal operations, for tht
relative strength OF the combatants was
about the same.
The French commenced their operations
by dispatching men enough to accomplish
their purpose,-the punishment of the Krou'
mir. Although the physical obstacles in
| their way were very great, they drove them
almost step by step away from their strip oi
territory between AlgIers and Tunis upon
Tunisian soil, and then, though 1t was an act
of war against the Bey, they invaded Tunis.
bombarded the fort OF Tabarca and occupied
it, and then occupied Kef and disarmed its
garrison. BY the occupation Of Tabarca
they cut of the Krounr from a supply Of
war material, and, BY tho occupation Of Kef,
from food. In this plight and hemmed In
on all sides, the Kroumir had no other
alternative than to surrender. The sur
render left the French in virtual occupation
Of Tunis The Bey had appealed in vain to
the Powers. Turkey, as the ostensible
suzerain Of Tunis. had made the same ap-
peal with the same results. There was moth
ing left for the Bey but to make treaty
! with tho French, which was signed on
Thursday last. The substance OF this treaty,
| which substantially establishes French
| protectorate over Tunis, Is thus stated by
| the dispatches:
1t assures to France tho right to occupy posi-
| ton. which the French military deem necessary
| the frontier and tho coast France guarantees
! the Bey security OF person. Srnte, and dynasty
| and the maintenance OF tho actually existing
Powers: the Bey not to conclude any new inter
national convention without previous under
agons nroad vii Be chareed NH tss nrniec
tlon Of Tunislan interests The financial sys-
ten of Tunls will be regulated by France in con-
cert with the Hcy to secure better working Of
| tho administration of the Regency. i subse-
quent convention will determine the amount
IN and @ mode Of collection Of the war indemnity to
nntecd BY Tunts The Bey undertakes to pro-
hfbit the importation ot arms and ammunition
VI tdd EoAsl SUutu ol 1ut4i3.
The relation of the European Powers to
this affair and the utter contempt with which
Turkeys interests in Tunis were treated are
alike remarkable. The Bey first appealed to
France, who turned deaf ear. Ha then ap-
pealed to Turkey, and its representative in
Paris demonstrated with the French Govern
ment, which turned its other ear, equally
deaf, to him also. The Eey then invoked the
Intervention of the European Powers, and the
Powers also had deaf ears. They considered
it as matter Of form but, rs they say In
law courts, found no cause of action. Col
1ectively they had no desire to open up a new
phase Of the Eastern question, SO long as
their own interests were not touched. In-
diridually, there have been but two OF the
Powers that have manifested any interest in
the matter at all,-1taly, on account of Ger
tain trade relations; England, on account of
Jealousy, rs usual. Italy, on being informed
OF the conclusion of the treaty, directed her
representative to suggest to the Governments
the propriety of calling q conference to
consider the treaty. This was nipped in
the bud by Prince Bismarck, who upon re-
celving the suggestion ordered the German
Ambassador at Rome to declare most enl-
pEatically that Germany refused to partici-
pate in any sucl, attempt and rejected all |
idea Of a European conference on Tunisian |
affairs. Bismarck is not ayerse to doing |
France favor SO long as she maintains the |
Government he wished to have established, |
and If France has Tunis he thinks, and has !
eren openly said, it will be Il compensation to |
her for the loss Of Alsace-Lorraine. Russia |
has no interest whatever in Tunis, anu. even if
she had, she Is too much occupied with her
own Wretched internal condition, which Is
daily growing worse, and has now almost
reached a crisis III the Cabinet designations,
to give any attention to what Is gcing on be-
tween France and Tunis,-a country of no
more Importance to her than our Indian
Territory. If Austria had any sympathy
with Tunls she would not show it after the
position assumed by Germany, for so long
as the alliance with Germany continues she
follows her lead. Spain. a near 1leighbor Of
Tunis, has not uttered word against
France. The Barcelona correspondent Of
the Rep1tbtiI!e Francois explains this.
1.-THE real origin Of the general approval by
Spaninrds Of French policy in Tunis,: he
says, ''is the abiding impression left by Span
ish history and tradition upon the popular
mind that every war against the Infilel de-
serves to succeed. Thus tho Spaniard reads
with satisfaction Of the expedition against the
Kroumir because for centuries the cradle
songs of his race have commemorated the
glories Of the Cid, and his life has been spent
in the midst of memorials of the prolonged |
struggle which eliminated in the expulsion
If the Moors from Europe" The only peo-
pie who have made serious protest against
ne French are the English, and
hey, in the language Of the London
Times, feel deep concern "that q nation
which seemed to have entered upon better
path should allow itself to be turned by fam
lied commercial interests into course not in
accordance with the best traditions of public |
aw." Mr. Pecksnif himself, in Ills happiest
moments, never exceeded this exhibition of
hypocrisy and this display Of mock goodness |