The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10

Her People Anxious for Returns from the
Millions Squandered I'm China.
PARIS, May 9.-The aggressive foreign policy
which has had sway in France for the past year
or two appears to be upon its last legs now that
an understanding has practically been reached
with China, by receding from the position so
boldly assumed after the unfortunate Langson
affair. The people recognize how little glory the
French name has achieved by the treasures
squandered and the lives wasted in the recent
military operaeions in Touquin. The more they
learn of the conquered regions the more they con-
denim the whole enterprise. and the
more skeptical they become as to any
possible advantage that France is to reap
from her remote and malarial possessions. Peo-
pie are apprehensive that the newly acquired dis
tricts will be no more profitable to the home
treasury than has been the expensive colony of
Cochin China.
The settlement of the difficulty with
China has a tendency to direcu pub
lie attention afresh to another foreign
war; that. in, Madagascar. which has
been dragging along without making any ad-
vancement for some time past. In 1883 France
began operations against the Hoya government
with view to compelling this power to recog-
nize the French right to exercise protectorate
over large district of the northwestern
portion Of the island ard to certain extent over
the whole country. Owing to the natural diff
ficulties which beset the invaders, the deadly
climate, and the serious opposition offered by the
natives. the French arms have accomplished so
far, next to nothing The little they have
done, however, has neceSsitated large ex-
penditure of money by the French Treasury.
French tax payers haze long been asking to
what purpose this wasteful sacrifice of lifo and
outpourlng OF treasure are continued. The gov
ernmeht is beginning to recognize that this
question demands speedy and satisfactory
answer. Undoubtedly, when the aggressive
steps were begun in Madagascar, the French
leaders believed they could accomplish their
purpose by short and comparatively in
expensive campaign. In this the event has
BY the time they discovered their mistake, how.
ever, they had become too deeply involved as
they thought to abandon the project
with honor, and they plunged deeper
and deeper into the mire, only to find after ALL
that they were making no progress, and that the
whole world was looking askance at their
operations and rejoicing at their i'll success
When it was decided to bring the fighting
in Tcnquin and Formosa to an end, there was
talk to the effect that the war in Madagascar
troops returning from the east would be dis
patched to fight the Hovas. and that every
effort wonld be made to push the war to a speedy
conclusion.
1t IS now believed that more conservative
counsels have prevailed The general feeling
now is that France has had enough of the
costly aggressive enterprise against the Hovas,
and that the best thing to do is to bring
it to an immediate conclusion. There is no
question but that the masses of the French peo-
pie are tired of the whole affair, and are desrous
of seeing it ended. A similar policy
to that observed in settling the diff
Guilty with China is likely to be adopted
That is, France will prepare the way
for peace by practically receding from the
position which she set ont to maintain
when hostilities began. 1t is believed
the ministers are already engaged in
proposing terms of peace which will be
acceptable to the Hova government Such n
course may strike blow at French prestige.
but there can be no doubc that it will be inn
mensely popular with the French people.