Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-11-28
Many POST -IHfELLIGENCER.

DAILY POST IIfELLlGEHCER
v.AuCE TIGHTENING HER HOLD on
TUNls.
Il does not follow because France
seams TO have resigned herself TO the
abolition Of the joint control, that she
msaps 70 forego all compen sat'on Tor
The loss Of her inHusnes in Egypt The
time = psopitioas for the Substitution
Of wsll-dsAned and ample powers iof
the provisional protectorate when
France has lately exercised over Iunis.
A treatv 70 that effect, concluded with
the Bsy some time ago, has hithsrto
been suffered to lie in sbeyauce; ous'
according 70 the kilograms from faf's'
q vill nov b submitted to the French
Chambers for ratification. The practi-
al yesult OF the convention will be to
nIaos the regency in position nearly
analogous to that occupied by Algeria,
for. although the Bsy will retain for the
pressnt . nominal authority, all the
1.oal and a large part Of the judicial
machinery will be in the hands OF
France.
To appreciate the importance OF this
step we must recall the anomalous ana
unsatisfactory nature Of the situation
xhich France has held In Tnnis since
the conquest Of the country. BY virtue
Of their military force, the FreLch are
really masters, and are everywhere rec
ooniz>d a. such. except among some
nomsd tribes of the Tripolitan and Al
osrian frontiers. But, although their
oarrisons are stationed in every city
and large town, and at all important
strategic points, and although the hey
himself we'll understands that be rules
only by sufferance, yet in respect OF the
civil administration the French have
exercised no larger powers than they
would in any independent Moslem
country. The collection OF taxes isper-
formed BY an international commits
aiou. in which France has only minor
ity of the members; and all judicial
proceedings. civil and criminal, to which
Foreigners are parties, ere carried on,
mt before French courts, but before
consular tribunals, representing the va
rious nationalities under what is known
q the regime Of oapitulations. This is
Z state Of things widely different not
only from that existing in Algeria or
British India, but from that which OBJ
tains in Cyprus, where the British
ore established under lease from the
Sultan, and in Bosnia, which by the
treaty Of Berlin the Austrians were
merely authorized TO occupy provision
ally. In Cyprus and Bosnia the regime of
oapitulations has boon abolished, and
the fiscal administration has passed
under the control of English or Of Aus
trian officials. Equal powers must I'M
doubtsdly be exercised by France in
Tunis IL she contemplates ANYTHING
moro than a temporary military de-
monstration In that country. That was
all France professed to mean when she
invaded the regency. But it would be
strange il she should miss the present
opportunity 10 disclose and execute her
real intentions.
The intervention Of an international
commission in the fiscal concerns of
Tunis dates from some twelve years ago.
In 1863 the Bey dsfsultsd in the pay
mont Of interest ON the public debt con-
tractsd In European markets, and
France, England and Italy were called
In to administer ON tho assets Of the
bankrupt. Il was agreed that Board
consisting Of two members from each
Of the countries named should be en-
powered 10 collect the Tunisian rove
nuss, and provide for the interest ON
bonds. The creditors, however, who
had purohassd the Boys promises TO
pay much below their par value. were
oompsllsd - submit to considerable
scaling q their claims, a. we'll AZ to a
reduction in the rate Of interest stipu-
lated. Thus the debt which had been
originally 81, 100000, was out down to
e2b.000, 900. II remains at that figure
today, the annual interest paid upo ! il
having bssn on the average l.73.
France nov proposes to assume this
debt, and this, merely from q financial
point Of view, would BE- good opera
tion. Hhs oan borrow the money at
pr cent, while, - we have seen, the in
tsrnational commission has been able to
pay larger rate Of interest, although
IT, subordinate agents are believed to
have been guilty Of gross smbszzlsmsnt.
On other grounds. the assumption Of
asoal control BY France 10 matter of
great importance, for hitherto her rep
rssentativss have BEEN thwarted in all
plans Of economical and social improve
mont By the majority Of tho commission,
which. although nominally made no Of
two EnRliah and two Italian subjects
really consists Of four Jews, natives of
Tunis, Who stubbornly resist any
change In the system under which they
have bssu brought up. Il is their refu-
al, for instance, 10 permit disburse-
msnss for the purpose, that has prevent
Cd the paving Of the principal streets
Of Tunis, which Il seems are always
mss deep. and sometimes waist deep,
In mud. ~ for the pressure Of tsmpta-
Non On tax collectors in the rural dis
Ricts 10 the malvsrsation, or, at all
events dstsntions Of the public funds,
thu may b measured BY The fact that
uaoney can b freely lent ON farming
land In the regency At 100 per cent. .
year.
A. for The regime Of oapisulatious
vhish sines the decay Of the Ottoman
power has been created BY the Euro.
pean States In the Oriental seaports, ve
nssd soasosly cay that it establishes =
special jpzisdistion for each nationality,
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