Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-10
FRANoEs FRUIrLEss wARs.
A Withdrawal from MadaGasoar Ex-
pected.

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 and accepting the Chinese version
OF the incident, the French people recog-
nlze how little glory the French name
has acquired, and how little advantage
French arms have secured by the treasure
squandered and lives wasted in tho recent
military operations in P0nquin. The
more they learn of the conquered regions,
the more they condemn the whole enter
prise, and the more skeptcal they become
as to any possible advantage that France
Is To reap from remote aud malaral pos
session.
NOT PROFITABLE ACQUISITIONS.
The people are apprehensive that the
newly acquired districts will be no more
prohtable to home treasures than has
been the expensive colony OF Cochin
China. The settlement Of the difficulty
with China has had a tendency TO direct
public attention afresh to another for
eign war, that in Madagascar, which has
been dragging along without making
any advancement for some time past.
Ia 1882 France began operations against
rthe Hova Government with u view TO
compelling this power TO recognize the
French right TO exercise a prOtect0rate
over district ofthe northwestern portion
of the island, and to certain extent
over the whole country. Owing to the
natural difficulties which beset the in
Vaders, the beastly nature of
the 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 expenditure of money by the French
treasury. French taxpayers have long
been asking to what purpose this waste
ful sacrifice of life and Outp0uring Of
treasure is continued. The govern
ment 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
that they could accomplish their purpose
by short and comparative inexpensive
campaign. In this events proved that
they were egregriously mistaken.
TOO FAR IN TO RETREAT.
BY the time they discovered their mis-
take, however, they bad become 80 deeply
involved, as they thought, to abandon
their project with honor, and SO they kept
plunging deeper and deeper into the mire
only to find after all that they were max
ing no progress, and that the whole world
was looking askance at their operations,
and rejoicing at their ill-success. When
it was decided to bring the fighting
in Tonquin and FOrmOsa TO an end,
there was a furry Of talk TO the
effect that the war in Madagascar would
now be vigorously prosecuted, that the
troops returning from the East would be
dispatched to fight the Hoyas, and that
every effort would be made to push the
war to speedy conclusion. But this
talk passed away without resulting in
decisive action, and it is now believed
that more reasonable counsels have pre-
vailed.
A PEACE AGREEMENT EXPECTED.
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 10 an inn
mediate conclusion. There is no question
but that the mass Of the French people
are tired Of the whole affair aud are de-
sirous of seeing IL ended. The ministry.
IL is pretty evident, have come around TO
the same view OF the case. A similar
policy TO that followed In settling the diff
Guilty with China is likely TO be adopted
that is, France will prepare the way for
place by practically Teceding from the
position which she set out TO maintain
when hostilities began. 1t Is believed
that the Ministers are already engaged in
proposing terms Of peace which Will be
acceptable to the HOva Government.
Such a course may strike blow at
French prestige, but there can be no
doubt that 1t will be Immediately popular
with the French people.