New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-10
FRENCH DIPLOM1CY.

The dispatch from NJ. TricOu the French
Agent in China, to NJ. Ferry, stating that the poi
lev of the Marquis Tseng had been dlsapproVea
by Ii Hung Chang has been so promptly ana
emphatically contradicted by tine latter ofilclal
that the position of NJ. Tricou is rendered en-
borrassing. The credit of that gentleman,
moreover, will not be strengthened by recol-
lection of the fact that of late years there has
been marked tendency on the part of French
diplomatists in remote parts to employ talsehoou
in the furtherance of intrigues. The memory
of the Tunis affair has not yet en-
tirely faded, and there are many
who we'll remember the audacious IN
ventions of NJ. Roustan at that time. WINE
the drama was in action the world at large
did not possess the key to the slttla-
ton, but when it was 100 late Ior
remOnstrance or intervention the TACT was eS-
tabished that a regular system OF diplomatic
fraud had been made the groundwork OF
high handed usurpatiOn. 1t is scarcely possible
to suppose that the French Ministry Ill 1881
were acquainted with the actual facts OF the
Tunis case. Indeed, it was made apparent III
tbe Roustan- Rochefort trial that NJ. Roustan
had practsed audaciOus receptions upon his
own Government to some extent, though 1t was
onite generally suspected that Gambetta had
winked at his agents aggresslOns, even II
he was not cOgnizant of their absolute wanton-
ness and Injustice. But Notwithstanding the
exposure of NJ. ROustan's wrOngdoing his Gov
eminent has never even suggested heproprety
Of rpparation. II has in fact taken advantage
of its agents tOrts.
In the case of VI. Tricou the circum-
stances Justify suspicion that the agent
in China may have been prompted to make
the unfounded statement now denied by III
HING Chang. The embarrassment of NJ. Ferry
certainly renders it possible that the TricOu
dispatch may have been written for its effect
upon the Deputies. OF course there is no pos
sible justification for such trickery. In the
case of Tunis, NJ. ROustan had everything his
own way. for England was the only Power
that could at that time have given
any help to the unfortunate Bcy, ana
England, though well and cnergetically repre-
scented at the scene of action, was IN the hands
of a Ministry almost pledged to nOn-interven-
ton in foreign affairs. With China the case is
different. The Pckin Government possesses
some of the most astutc diplomatists III the
world, and though not strong enough to cope
with France in the field, it is at least match
for any of the Western Powers in the Cabinet.
A misrepresentation such as that made by NJ.
TricOu therefore cannot be productive even OF
an ephcmeral advantage to the Government
responsible for it. 1t can only bring
doubt and discredit upon that Government,
both at home and abroad II is indeed becom-
ing obvious that China will abide by her ult-
matum, and that the Ferry Government must,
therefore, choose shortly between war and
withdrawal in the Tonquin affair. The Tricou
dispatch has not made this choice easier for 1t
has put France distinctyin the wrong at a crit-
cal moment and has enabled China TO address
to her reproach which is none the less CALLING
because merltcd.
The practice of justifying aggrcssons upon
weak Powers in far-away places, by
misrcpresentng the facts, or even by fOrg-
ing evidence of foreign aggression il one
which no great Power can safely permit or APP
prove. When the Russian Foreign Office en-
ploys such subterfuges in carrying out its
Central Asian policy of absorption the
world shrugs its shoulders and reminds
itself that after all Russia is still semi
Oriental and semi-barbarOus. But the great
nations of Europe cannot afford TO resort to such
petty immOraities in their diplomacy, and if
they do, the wrong will sooner or later avenge
itself The Tonqun affair has thus far brought
neither honor nor profit to France, and if the
TIicou dispatch should interfere with peaceful
negotiations, neither NJ. Ferry nor his agent will
probably have reason to congratulate them
selves upon the results of their diplomacy.