The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-10-11
R0PEAN WAR CLOUD.
ENGLAND DISPLEASED ATT THE
BLOCKADING OF PORTS.
The Action of France in Blockading the
Ports of Madagascar Has Caused the
British Lion to Emit Growls
of Warning.

LONDON, Oct. 3.-All the afternoon
papers gravely discuss the hasty sum,
moning OF cabinet council, as it is
generally accepted as being connected
with some difficulty with France. The
Liberal organ, the Westminster Gaz.
ette' handles the subject very ten DER
~. On the other hand the Conserva-
tive mouthpieces discuss the matter
more fearlessly and warn France
against encroaching upon British
rights. The Pail Mall Gazette saws:
"a crisis which necessitates a con-
venlng of a cabinet lust be
very sudden. 1t is quite possible
however propositions have been made
to settle the various difficulties. But
while we gladly recognize that the in,
cioent admits of favorable interpella-
tion, it is idle to ignore the fact that it
Is quite possible that the cabinet has
been summoned to discuss a new and
unexpected cause of friction with
France. The Pail Mall Gazette refers
TO the article printed today in the Pol
1tique Colonia.e of Paris, which gives
the views of the minister of the COL
onies, M. Del Case, and which gives,
exclusive OF the questions of Egypt
and Madagascar, a letter of outstand~
4, ing differences between England and
France connected with frontier and
similar difficulties and various African
colonies. The Politique Coloniale,
however, says that many of these have
practically been settled and that mono
of them would justify a rupture unS
less one country was bent upon pickS
ing a quarrel with the other, which,
the paper adds is not the case.
The Pail Mall Gazette, in spite of
this, says the article is unfriendly to
the verge of discourtesY, adding: And
if it reflects the spirit in which the
French minist ers intend to discuss the
difficulties with England we may pre-
pare for trouble. We do not wish to
quarrel with France, but on the other
hand, we are indisposed to permit the
trespassing upon our unquestioned
rights" The Gazette then continues:
"The Daily Chronicle says that war
between France and England must be
regarded as inconceivable madness.
1t may be madness, but it is not in
conceivable, we have not the slightest
desire to provoke her, but if attacked
we shall defend ourselves to the last
extremity"
1t also expresses the belief that the
hurried calling of the cabinet is due
to disputes with France, adding: "We
believe there is no ground for alarm or
susp' cion, but we caunot surrender
any part of England's right or shirk
any part of her duties. Our strained
relations with France are not mat
ter of a days growth, nor connected
entirely with Madagascar. We have
points of contact with the French
e throughout the world and each is
( Dssible of having fostered circum-
2 !ances which may easily become
strife. 1t is certain that the way in
which we have allowed ourselves to
be outwitted during the last year and
the manner in which we have stood
by while France has partitioned our
interests in Siam, has done much to
persuade the more ignorant of heather
Frenchmen that England is not 80
very terrible after all.
"Today's cables of the blockade of
the the island of Madagascar sets at
rest all doubt as to the cause for the
calling OF the cabinet. The ministers
have decided upon resolute course
of action and the public will await
with anxiety the news of their de-
cision. We want no panic and no war
levers, but we need the assurance
that our interests will be properly
guarded and our allies protected.
The French will find we shall have a
word to say about the Madagascar
question before it is settled, and Lord
Rosebery may rely upon the Union.
lists to support him locally and
heartily in the interests of the ems
pire.n The above quotations from the
leading afternoon papers of this city,
give fair idea of the drift of public
opinion here and the gravity of the
causes which caused the calling OF
the cabinet.