The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-01
France in the East.

The acquiescence of France ia the En-
glish seizure of Egyp4has excited some sur
prise France did, up to a recent period,
evince considerable jealousy of England in
that direction, and insisted upon and OBJ
tanned an equal share in the joint control,
which it enjoyed for a number of years. 1t
was generally expected VIXEN the troubles
in Egypt arose and the necessity of foreign
Intervention became apparent that whatever
was done by the European Powers would be
effected by France and England together.
At the outset there evidently was JOINT &C
ton, but when the earnest work began
France withdrew. She took no part what
ever in the bombardment of Alexandria, or
in any of the operations that followed.
When de Lesseps raised his cutlery at the
British occupation of the Suez Canal, he
certainly expected the support of his coun-
try, but he was astonished to receive, instead
OF encouragement from Paris, an admoni-
ton to the effect that. he was making too
much noise.
Since the close of the war France has
evinced comparatively little interest in
Egyptian affairs, and has signified her will
ingness to withdr aw all claims and leave
everything in the hands of England. The
former jealousy has utterly disappeared.
The mystery is cleared up at last by the
news that England has given France carte
blanche, so far as she is concerned, in Tunis
No objection is made to the institution of
Franch tribunals in fbat oo,,r+r,, -; ~
honorable conduct of which England ''has
full confidence" etc. 1t will be remembered
that the consent of France to the treaty of
Berlin was regarded at the time as some
what peculiar. Every one of the great Pow
ers except France appeared to gain some
thing. Russia got little territory-though
the main thing she got was a serious check;
Austria obtained power over the Slavic
provinces, Germany gained valuable diplo
; matte advantages, England got Cyprus, and
France nothing that was visible to the max
ed eye. But it appeared subsequently that
the Marquis of Salisbury had given Wad-
dington, the French Minister, private
wink to the effect that France might branch
out some from Algiers if she wanted to-
Such promise would not have been pop
ular in England, where there is a general
disapproyal of stealing territory-unless it
seems necessary-apd SO the Marquis. to
use plain phrase, lied about it in Parlia-
ment. The lie was afterward exposed, and
the fact that such pledge had been given
seriously reprobated by the Liberals But
circumstances alter cases, and similar
transaction has lately taken place, with the
difference that there is no lying about it.
and herein is signifed the radical distinction
between the Beaconsfield and the Gladstone
methods of doing things. The habit viii Oh
the European Powers have adopted of pur-
chasing certain parts of Mohammedan ter
ritory by giving other parts for them, when
they do not own any of the property, may
not be considered exactly fair by the Mo-
hammedans, but the practice has proved
valuable in the way of preserving peaceful
European relations. 1t is inexpensive, and
answers the purpose, as has been demons
trated by practical experience.