The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-11
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.
The French Tired of Both the Tonquin and
Rova Wars, and the New Ministry
Will Put an End to Both.

PARIS, May e.-The aggressive foreign policy
which has had sway in France for the past year or
two, appears TO be its last legs. that
understanding has practically been reached with
China by receoing from the position SO boldly
assumed after the unfortunate Langsay affair.
The people recognize how little glory the French
name has achieved by the treasures kquanderet
aud the lives wasted in the recent military
Oh ersiions In Tonquin TIE more they learn of
the conquered regions the more they Condemn
the Whole enterprise and the more skeptcal they
become as 10 any possible advantage mat France
is 10 reap from her remote and malarial posse
kiOnS. lTOple are ppIehenslve that the newly
acGnired districts will be no more profitable 10 tue
home treasury than has been the expensive colony
OF COchln-Chlna. The settlement OF the difficulty
with CHINA has a tendency TO direct public atten-
ZION airesh to another foreign war, that
in Madagascar, which has been drag.
glng along without making any
advancement Tor some tine past. In 1858 France
began operations against the Eova Government
with q view to compelling This power 10 recognize
The FIerch ris ht to exercise prolectorate over a
la.ee district of the northwestern portion OF the
island. and 10 certain extent over the whole
beSeI IL e invaders, the deadly climate and the
serious opposition offered by the natives, the
next TO nothing. The little they
have done, however, has necessitated a larze
French taxpayers have long been asking to what
purpose this waseful sacrifice OF life and out
pouring of treasure are continued. The Govern
ment is beginning 10 recognize that this question
demands speedy and satisfactory answer. In
doubleday when the aggressive steps were beguu
IN Madagascar the French leaders believed they
could accomplish their purpose by short aud
comparatively inexpensive campaign. In this the
event has proved that they were egregiOusly
mistaken. By the time they discovered their
mistake however 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 op
erations and rejoicing at their Ill success. When
II Was deciC ed 10 bring the fighting in TOnquin
and Formosa to an end there was talk to the eject
that the war in Madagascar would now be vigor-
ously prosecuted, That the troops returning FROM
the East would be dispatched TO fight the Hovas
and that every effort would be made to push the
war TO a speedy conclusion. But this talk passed
away without resulting in decisive action. and it
is now believed tibet 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 tue best
thing 10 do is 10 bring 1t 10 an immediate con-
clusion. There is no question but that the masses
OF the French people are tired OF the whole affair,
and ere DESTROYS of seeing it ended.
similar policy to that observed in settling the
difficulty with China is likely 10 be adopted. That
is, France will prepare the way for peace by prac
tically recedng from the position (which she set
out 10 maintain when hostilities began, 1t is be-
lieyed that the ministers are already engaged in
proposing terms of peace which will be acceptable
10 the HOva Government. Sucha course may
strike blow at French prestige, but there can be
no doubt that il will be immensely popular with
the French people.