Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-07
WILL FRANCE INVADE CANADA
An Interesting statement which Finds
Credence Among some French Cana

dians
From fAe Seu York sun.
MONTREAL. Jan. 3.-Le Monde, OF this
city, prints letter from Its Paris cores
pondent saying that "there exists in the
archives of the Marine in Paris an elabo-
rate plan for The invasion and occupation
Of the Gulf of st. Lawn nee and the prov
ince OF Quebec in the event OF war be-
tween France and England" He says,
100, that 1.-THE visit OF the French irOnclad
La Gahssonere 70 Quebec four years ago
was for the purpose Of exploring and
finding out tue points OF vantage
along the coast. That visit" the
Paris correspondent says, was
made because the English government
at that time threatened 70 seize the suez
canal" In conversation to-day with one
Of the most prominent French Canadian
Journalists in Montreal about this met
dent, your correspondent was told that
the existence Of such plan was no news
10 him. The English government" he
said, us well aware that France has an
eye on Quebec, and it knows, too, that II
war ever takes place between the two
countries the French Canadians will side
with their mother country. War between
France and England would mean war In
Canada. This is no secret and not only
has the French Minister Of Marine an
elaborate plan tor the invasion and
occupation OF Quebec, but the French
Minister OF War knows exactly the
state Of public feeling here, the
number of men the French Canadians
could put in the field, what arms they pos
sess, the strateglcal features OF the coun-
try, and the assistance France night ex-
pect in the event OF attempting An inya-
sion OF Canada. The crumbliny condition
Of the citadel at Quebec, the neglected
sfa,e1 % 81. IA. -
Der OF the French Canadian people on the
national question. the relative strength Of
the French Canadian and EnglIsh militia
battali0ns. the strength and weakness Of
Halifax, and everything that goes to make
up what the Paris correspondent OF Ii
Monde calls IAN elaborate plan for the in
vaslOn and occupation Of this country
have, to nv know edge. been on record IN
the French archives tor some years past"
But do you believe that the French
Canadian people would support such a
venture on the part OF Franee" | asked.
"Why, yes, of course. YOU know they
would" he answered "Tney would. l
grant. rather he lett alone. They have
been until lately fairly we'll satisfied, but
war between France and England would
at once precipitate awar Of races here.
| happened to be in Paris at the very time
that England was, as lie -HORde'S CORE
spondent says, threatening to seize the
Suez canal, and II had one | had 100
| conversations on the subject Of the in
yasiOn Of Canada by a French expedi-
tionarv force. Military men, naval men
and journalists all spoke to me about II.
A few swift cruisers with 10000 troops
and 100, 600 stand of arms on board would
do the work. And TO tell you the truth
We here do not pooh pooh the idea, be-
cause we know that the English people
will respect our rights all the more when
they understand that we have an outside
nation to whom we can hook for help, just
as you Irish people are better able TO hold
up your heads here because OF the neigh
horhood OF your Irish relatives in the
Unit4d States"
But what about the church? Would
the clergy side with the French Repuhli-
cans and risk the secularizatiOn Of their
schools, the taxation or perhaps confsca-
ton OF their church properties. the dan
ger of the introduction of communicate
IDEAS. and the probable growth OF in7del-
Try " hich a triumph of France in such
contest might mean in Canada. as hey
now exist in the mother country"' l
again asked.
mo" be replied. The church would
al first oppose US. But the torrent of pop
ular enthusiasm would be too strong for
! the church once F ench troops landed and
! the tricOlor was unturled. No French
I Canadian would fght against that flag
I any more than the Irish would fight
against their own. Besides, the evils
which you anticipate would not follow.
France would give usbOme rule, and the
loss OF Canada would be a blow at Eng
lish prestige. There must be a change
some time. We cannot 20 on as we are.
The change may come through American
or French influence. but IL must come,
ana Il Is fortunate for our people that we
know n. and that we are preparing for it.
TOO. We are not idle. Our young men
are taking a more lively interest
a joining the militia, our public journals
are more outspoken on the question Of
French Canadian privileges as guaranteed
BY the articles Of cap'tuation. we are en-.
} couraging immigration from the old
France, we are pushing the English ont
OF this province, We are day by day be-
coming more and more people. and while
not one of US wants to see disturbance.
vet we all realize the fact that the best
way to prevent it is by proving TO the
English people Of Canada that II We are
not vet strong enough 70 q ut them, we
have friends with whose help we could
more than hold our own
No French Canadian in the Dominion
understands his people or the situation
better than nv informant