Smyrna times., 1882-12-27
French Greed.

The French nation is cautious and
pacific in Europe, but reckless and ag-
gressive everywhere else. The same
Deputies who evince so fine feeling of
patriotism when NJ. Clemenceau
breaches to them on the brotherhood of
nations and the destiny of republics
never hesitate to sanction schemes of |
annexation and conquest in any quar-
ter of the world where European inter
ference is not to be feared. The prin-
cipality of Tunisia, subjugated and per-
manently occupied i'll violation of Min
isterial pledges, is rapidly being con-
verted into a second Algeria. Within
the last month military expedition
has been sent to Mzab, on the northern
edge of the Sahara, and the district has
been annexed to Algeria and perma-
nently garrisoned AS the inhabitants
have been uniformly faithful to France
and have rejected alliances with hostile
tribes, this seems an unjustifiable act of
aggression. One of the Premier's first
acts when the Chambers assembled
| three weeks ago was presentation OF
bill empowering the Government to
ratify NJ. de Brazza's treaty with King
Makoko. Urgency was unanimously
voted, and it was understood that a
gun-boat would be dispatched at once
to the Congo. In Tonquin, where city
was besieged early in the year, the atti-
tude of the colonial officials have again
become aggressive, and material ex-
tension of the French commercial en-
pire in Asia is confidently predicted.
Finally, in Madagascar the same spirit
of greed has been persistently manifes-
ted. A. strip of territory 800 miles long,
with coast line comprising several
excellent harbors and with an inland
boundary which will promote the ends
ofnative warfare, has been demanded
and in the enforcement of this claim re
course has already been had to high
handed acts unworth of generous anC
pacific people.
Americans have special interest il
their missionaries have taken an activ
y part in the conversion and education
J of the islanders, and two of their coun
e trymen have been murdered on tn
: west coast, apparently in consequence
n of disturbances caused by French as
e grcssiveness. Madagascar is an islam
It on the east coast of Africa, over loo
l. miles long and $50 broad, with popl
d lation of about 100000 and varie
Is sources of natural wealth. The fir
.e foreign settlement effected on the islam
was an ill-managed French colon,
founded iu IVA and abandoned te
)r years afterward. In 1916 the Britis
u Government sent out file of sergean
le to drill the warriors of the princip
u tribe, with whom diplomatic and cor
lie mercial relations had been opene
u During the next half-century the
1t, treaties and similar engagements wi
n France were repudiated by sever
e warlike Queens, ard Europeans we
IT. repeatedly banished from the island
A sometimes massacred with sava
el ferocity. AS late as 1865 the treat
ne with France were publicly burned
rs the capital of Hovas, the dominent ra
Ia in the centre of the island, and t
ed feeling of hostility has never who
re subsided, although trade has be
&C. opened with British ports and Prot
NJ tant and Catholic missionaries have
remarkable success in educating
,rv natives and abolishing barbarous C
cf toms. The Hovas have been menaC
700 so often with French expeditions IL
or. they have come to regard that nat
in as their traditional enemy.
,rlr The French policy in Madagascar
or become exceedingly aggressive dur
the presently year. In the northwest
nf quarter of the island there is q warl
80 tribe known as the Sakalavas, who
,or though unable to conquer the HoN
oro by whom they are greatly outnumber
,,d have always succeeded in defend
d their own territory against alta
tou This tribe has been supplied with al
-ru by French agents and is now thr'
- ening to subjugate the central port
lich vi ""''''s''So"i' i'A ''-0
,md valorous tribe, the conquest Of
, =, island would be d comparatively e
,,. enterprise, and country as large
Tou, France itself, and rich in woods,
mo and tropical products, would be ope
to commerce. So formidable has
menace become that the Queen of
Hovas has seng to Paris an embassy
negotiate n spe cial convention by WI
ipa- the meddlesome intrigues of Ger
lOl- French creoles may be proven
res When the ENJOYS arrived they v
DC d abruptly informed that France int
men to occupy a section of the coas
own which the Hovas have been i'll undi
the ted possession for more than cent
pas They were asked to acknowledge
ases independence of Sakalava territory
los the validity of French protectC
tne based upon treaties made with
de- chief of that tribe in 1S41. They
ion sent back to the island with the !
that sage that their Queen must cedC
'sent territory claimed by the French
efore recognize the rights of the foreign
TO Its of the Sakalavas--an ally that can
10 OF ply that tribe with chassepots and
been teries-before any treaty can be CO..
ener- ded or a permanent settlement /
the fected. The arbitrary demands,
" IN the indifference with which the r
and grievances of the natives ar
garded, are characteristic of that
esti- of fheartlessness and greed with v
J late France is now pursuing the poll
Lon colonial expansion.