Evening star., 1893-12-12
NAPOLEON ON RECIPROCITY.
A Possible Reason why England Was
Always Ready to Fight Him.
From the Century.

From the Century.
Napoleon was in very good spirits and
seemed very desirous to show that though
he had ambition England was not without
her share also. He said that ever since the
time of Cromwell we had set up extraordi-
nary pretensions and arrogated to ourselves
the dominion of the sea; that after the
peace Of Amiens Lord Sidmouth wished to
renew the former treaty of commerce,
which had been made by Vergennes after
the American war, but that he (Napoleon),
anxious to encourage the industry Of
France, had expressed his readiness to en-
ter into a treaty, not like the former. which
IL was clear from the portfolio OF Versailles
must be injurious to the interests OF
France, but on terms of perfect reciprocity
viz that IL France took SO many millions
of English goods England should take as
many millions of French produce in re-
turn. Lord Sidmouth said
This Is totally new. l cannot make a
treaty on these conditions"
Very well. l cannot force you into a
treaty of commerce any more than you can
force me, and we must remain as we are
without commercial intercourse"
Then said Lord Sidmouth, there will
be war, for unless the people of England
have the advantages of commerce secured
to them which they have been accustomed
to they will force me to declare war;
"As you please. 1t is my duty to study
the just interests of France, and | shall not
/
principles than those l have stated"
He stated that although England made
Malta the pretext, all the world knew that
was not the real cause of the rupture-that
he was sincere in his desire for peace as a
proof of which he sent his expedition to
San Domingo. When it was remarked by
Col Campbell that England did not think
MIN sincere, from his refusing a treaty of
commerce and sending consus to Ireland
with engineers to examine the harbors, he
laughed and said that 1t was not necessary,
Tor every harbor in England and Ireland
was we'll known to him. Bertrand remark
ed that every ambassador was a spy.
Napoleon said that the Americans admit
| ted the business Of his principles Of CON-
| merce. Formerly they brought over some
millions of tobacco and cotton, took specie
! In return and then went empty to England,
where they furnished themselves with Brit
| ish manufactures. He refused to admit
from France an equivalent In French pro-
duce. They yielded to his system as being
] just. He added that now England had 1t
all her own way, that there was no power
which could successfully oppose her system,
and that she might now impose on France
any treaty she pleased.
The Bourbons poor devils (here he check
ed himself), are great lords who are con-
tented with having back their estates and
castles, but II the French people become
dissatisfied with that Che treaty. and find
that there Is not the encouragement for their
manufactures in the interior of the country
that there should be, they (the Bourbons)
will be driven out in six months Marseilles
Nantes. Bordeaux and the coasts are not
| troubled by that, for they always have the
same commerce, but in the interior 1t is an
other thing. l well know what the FEELING.
ENCOURAGED" '