New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-07
HPENCH IRFED

The French nation is cautious ar pacific IN
Europe, bat reckless and aggressive every
where else The same Deputies who evince
SO fine a feeling of patriotism when NJ. Cl6men-
eeau breaches to them on the brotherhood of
nations and the destiny of republics never
hesitate to sanction schemes of annexation and
conquest in any quarter of the world where
European interference Is rot to be feared The
principality of Tunisia, subjugated and perma-
nently occupied in violation of Ministerial
pledges, Is rapidly being converted into sec
ond Algeria. Within the last month military
expedition has been sent to Mzab, ON the north
ern edge of the Sahara, and the district has
been annexed to Algeria and permanently gar
risoned. As the inhabitants have been uni
formly faithful to France and have rejected
alliances with hostile tribes, this seems an unjus
tifable act of aggression. One of the Premier's
first acts when the Chambers assembled three
weeks ago was the presentation OF bill EN-
towering the Government to tify NJ. de Braz-
za's treaty with King MakOko. Urgency was
unanimously voted and 1t was understood that
a gun-boat would be dispatched at once to the
Congo. In TOnquin, where city waS beseged
early in the year. the attitude of the colonial
officials has again become aggressive, and ma
terial extension of the French commercial en-
pire In Asia is confidently predicted Finally,
in Madagascar the same spirit of greed has
been persistently manifested. A strip of ter
ritOry 800 miles long with coast line com
prising several excellent harbors and with an
inland boundary which will promote the ends
of native warfare, has been demanded, and in
the enforcement of this claim recourse has al
1 1 Il. 1al a..
of generous and pacific people.
Americans have special interest in this an
nexation scheme, inasmuch as their missionaries
have taken an active part in the conversion
and education of the islanders, and two OF
their countrymen have recently been murdered
on the west coast, apparently in consequence of
disturbances caused by French aggressiveness.
Madagascar is an island on the east coast Of
Africa, over 1000 miles long and $50 broad,
with population OF about 2500,000 aud va
RED sources of natural wealth. The first for
eign settlement effected on the island was an
ill-managed French colony, founded In IVA
aud abandoned a few years afterward. In
1916 the British Government Aent out file of
sergeants to drill the warriors of the principal
tribe, with whom diplomatic and commercial
relations had been opened. During the next
half-century these treaties and similar engage
mehts with France were repudiated by several
warlike Queens, and Europeans were repeat
eddy bauished from the island-sometimes mas
sacred with savage ferocty. AS late as 1865
the treaties with France were publicly burned
in the capital of the Hovas, the dominant race
in the centre of the island, and this feeling of
hostility has never wholly subsidized, although
trade has been opened with British ports and
Protestant and Catholic missionaries have had
remarkable success in educating the natives
and polishing barbarous customs. The.Hovas
have been menaced so often with French ex-
petitions that they have come to regard that
nation as their traditional enemy
The French policy in Madagascar has become
exceedingly aggressive during the present year.
In the northwestern quarter of the Island there
is warlike tribe known as the Sakalavas, who
although unable to conquer the Hovas, by
whom they are greatly outnumbered, have AL
ways succeeded in defending their own terri
tory against attack. This tribe has been sup
piled with arms by French agents and is now
threatening to subjugate the central portion of
Madagascar. With the aid of this valorous
tribe, the conquest of the island would DO
comparaii gely easy enterprise and country
as large as France itself, and rich in woods,
iron and tropical products, would be opened
to commerce. SO formidable has this menace
become that the Queen of the Hovas has sent to
Partisan embassy to negotiate special conven-
ton by which the meddlesOme intrigues Of
certain French creoles may be prevented.
When the ENJOYS arrived they were abruptly
informed that France intends to occupy Sec
ton of the coast of which the Hovas have been
In undisputed possession for moro than GEN.
tury. They were asked to acknowledge the in