The morning call., 1893-01-21
ISOLATED IN EUROPE.
France Stands Without Help and
Without a Single Ally.
Jules Ferry Tells Some Home Truths
That VIII Not Be Well Re-
ceived by FrenclImen.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

NEW YORK. Jan. 2o.-Smalley cables to
the Tribune from Paris: The submission of
the Khedive to England continues to pro-
woke very Interesting and curious comments.
The French Foreign Office has not had its
last word We are told it would be odd if
it had. Egypt is its standing grievance
against England, and a new hand at the
Foreign Office may prove more energetic in
this crisis than an old one. Devele, whose
interest has hitherto been bucollc. has an
excellent opportunity now of proving, what
nobody doubts. that the foreign policy of
France, and especially its policy toward
Egypt, is continuous. But we shall have to
wait some time for the publication OF
Develle's dispatch, and 10 the meantime
there are plenty of amateur diplomats in the
press who are busy explaining to Deyelle
what he ought to say and what tone Wad-
dington ought to take in his interviews
with Lord Rosebrry.
There is also one writer In the press who
is not an amateur. Jules Ferry himself
has taken hold of the Egyptian question.
and he discusses it with precisely that re-
spect for facts which the French amateur
so often lacks. He is as hostile to England
as the others are and he derdes those silly
Uhe phrase is Ferry's. not mne) VINO imag-
ined that Gladstone, once in power, would
show either regard for French SUSCEPTIBLE
ties or respect for his own plighted faith.
The English Prime Minister, whom Ferry
and other Frenchmen more or less ac-
quanted with the English tongue cali 1.-THE
great old man." has put his diplomatic con-
science into the keeping of his Foreign
ff,.,1 Ill
understand that she has nothing to expect
from English goodwill. She rightfuly
mistrusted Lord Salisbury RosebeIy is
even worse. Salisbury never perpetrated
an act of such brutality as Rosebery has
now been guilty of. It is sheer violence
"Rosebery." says Ferry, sis beyond dis
pute a very distinguished man, with great
future before him. He Is a man of i'm
mense ambition, who does not hesitate TO
be more lingo than the Tories themselves"
That is an interesting estimate. More
interesting still is Ferry's clear view Of the
actual situation and of the change that has
come over the face of Europe. France, he
admits, stands alone so far as Egypt Is
concerned. She has no ally worth counting,
and can expect no moral or material help
from any other power whatever. Eight
years ago the exact contrary was true. Eng
land was then isolated, as France is now.
She has taken the place which belongs to
France in continental politics. The affront
she offers to Europe in Egypt is intolerable,
but Europe puts up with 1t. The only
chance Franco has Of regaining her foot
hold in Egypt is by modifying her foreign
policy in Europe itself. Never will she
overcome the stubbornness of England by
an isolated diplomacy or by sterile demon
stratons.
Those last are words of sense. but they
fall on deaf ears. Ferry is out of the run
ming. His experience and his real capacity
are of no avail to his country. He will only
be abused for saying things which are true
to people who wish only to hear what is
agreeable.
1t is far more agreeable to the French to
be told, for example. that the English
triumph in Cairo is not. after all. quite com
pIete. That is what the Republique Fran
calse tells them. 1t is notcomplete. because
Lord Cromer did not insist on the restora-
ton of Mustapha Fehmv nor on the resig-
nation Of the two Ministers nominated at
the same time as Fakhri, namely, MaZh0un
Pasha aud Boutroi Pasha. Fakhri Pasha,
moreover. is not disgraced, but gets a high
ceremonial post and decoration.
All that is one. Lord Cromer let down
the Khedive as easily as he could. He told
him he had no wish to humiliae him nor to
diminish his just autority. But the French
cannot have It both ways. They cannot
well denounce British arrogance and bru-
tally while they admit Cromer's conciliatory
spirit and cite it in proof of the partial fail
ure to coeree the Khediye.
They are nevertheless quite right in think
ing that English radicalism is "a broken reed
to lean upon. The acqulescence of the Eng
lish radicals in Rosebery's firm policy and
determined conduct Is far more complete
than was supposed. The lesson is that in
England no considerable party. no matter
how friendly to France. will. when the
pinch comes, prefer French interests TO
British interests