New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
IBT CABLE TO The TRIBUNE
Copyright: 1891: By The Tribune Aaocidttonj

rnent has now taken what may be called an
official form. 1t has been officially expressed IN
the French Chamber by NJ Hanotaux the new
Foreign Minister, and official complaints and pro-
tests have been addressed by the French Gov
ernment to the English Government The de-
bate in the French Chamber on Thursday ought
to be an instructive lesson TO English enthusi-
asts beginning with Mr. Gladstone, who believe
in French goodwill to England. Not one voice
was raised In defence OF the English acdon In
Africa. not one expression OF friendship for Eng
land was heard or Of belief in her good faith-
Not one vote was given against resolution
which was deliberately proposed and deliberately
passed as an affront to England, II not as
challenge.
described the present Dupuy Ministry last
week az an Anglophobe Ministry. Il has seized
the earliest opportunity to prove It's right 70
that title 1t is no exaggeraton to say that NJ.
Hanotaux's speech belongs II category which
IN other times would hardly have been delivered
by the Foreign Minister of a great Power ex-
cept as A preliminary TO ultimatIm ana
menace OF war. Not only Is he tone through-
out one Of hostility 10 England; there arc
phrases whicl. II addressed b. an English MIN
lister to France. would haze set France on hie
Fortunately. the English are less inflammaole.
They take NJ Hanotaux's vaporings cooliy
enough reIhaps too coolly. The temper OF the
Cnolish Foreign Office towa-I the Quai D'Orsay
Is always a slightly scepti"al one. Downing
Street ha. learned by long experience the pre-
else value OF the peculiar rhetoric In favor Win
French Foreign Ministers, and with them alone
II is cornmC My toned down In dispatches not
meant for immediate publication, hut when
French Foreign Minister gets into the tribune
Of the Chamber of Deputies, his language ceases
10 be diplomatic. The language Is that OF poll
tics and OF iournalism-I mean Trench Journal
ism.
This nresent speech Of NJ. Hanotaux's fills two
columns Read IL with what care you will. the
precise ground Of his complaint against England
ia undisco,.rable The world knows the real
ground BE the subject in dispute where ana
what II NAV. the real grievance is always Egypt-
Y is Frypt now So far as NJ Hanotalx is IN
,eIlieiblc he bases his protest on three grounds:
First the Congo State mas exceeded It's rights
and stepped out OF what II pleases France 10
consider its natural field Of action" That ID
hardly matter Of quarrel with England Sec
ond the Anglo Belgian Convention disrcsaros
the rights Of the Sultan, and infr!nges upon tho
integrity Of the Ottoman Empire which, accord
ing 10 NJ Hanotaux. is the foundation OF Euro-
pean international law That belongs to the 90
main OF metaphysical politics. But II 1t did not
since when has France been appointed by Eu-
rope the guardian OF the Ottoman Empire!
Thiri.-and here we little coser-the
special interests OF France as regards the Cohgo
Free State are affected They may be, or tney
NAV not But II they are, the interests arc
surely capable OF definition. They are, IN fact,
NOT even specified On This. as on all the ether
points NJ Hanotaux is vague. No DOUBT france
has certain preferential rights in tn, distant fu-
a-=fo nOhOQX
vet explained how they woult oS aoriageC CT ~
any way injuriousy affected.
II. in a word. NJ. Hanotaux has case. ne
either cannot or will not state II as TO be un-
derstood by those whom he summons to the bar
Of European public opinion. England has un-
doubtedly gained by the negotiation certain ad-
vantares in Africa She was entitled TO gain
them or entitled so far anything yet appears
TO the contrary. 1t may be a diplomatic deteae
for France but )nly in the sense. as explained
last week that she has BEEN forestalled. her
Ida was not 10 obtain the tootholi she wanted
by diplomacy. but by ilibustering. She has LOST
her chance. and she Is trying 10 recover IL py
vague fu,minations. and by remonstrances oaseo
on the most shadowy grounds. Lord kimberley
refused. and l think rightly refused. t. accept
the Iir<t protest sent him. He does not. however.
refuse 10 discuss the question He declares hin-
self ready to discuss all questions relating 10
Central anc West Africa-a !atsc- order than
.li' French bargained for
There are hints Of movements OF French
troops toward the disputed frontier. AS there
are no French troops nor French territory
within 500 miles Of this frontier that news
is not very serious What is serious II
that by the side OF the French Minister
are seen the Delon lies and Deatosses end
Observation-Disclosures 10 man-that M.
Etierne perhaps the most violent OF them all,
pronounced benediction VI. Hanotaux and
his speech and that the Chamber following NJ.
Etienne's lead. adopted the menacing resolution
he proposed, and adopted 1t by a unanimous
vote. w.
The French press. with pleasing affectaton
OF artessness expresses its hope, and even its
belief that England in the presence Of this
unanimity will see the error of her ways and
withdraw her pretensions. These amiable writ
ers will perhaps be undeceived when they see
that French nvectives listened to here with
an indifference which is restrained only by civil
ity from becoming open contempt But con-
tempt is always a dangerous attitude of mind.
and nothing will so exasperate the French as
the caln,ness Of their English opponents. They
are sure to think 1t insulting. They VIII not De
better pleased when they hear that Germany has
mace no general PROTEST dBdItise N'ie <N''e'O ~--
gan convention, as first reported. The Under
Foreign Secretary denied the report last night
in the House OF Commons. All Germany has
done is TO ask for assurances on two pointa
which England has readily given.
Undoubtedly the chief event Of the weeks domes.
tic politics has been the winning OF the Derby oy
Lord Rosebery's I.adas What the ultimate po-
litica effect Of his victory may be remains
doubtful There people who told you Tor
weeks beforehand, and until they became tire
some. that the salvation OF the Liberal party. or
at least the immediate fortunes OF the Minis
try depended on the result Of Wednesdays race
on EPSON Downs. They omitted to take ac-
count OF the Nonconformist conscience Tnat IN
terestng moral organism has OF late MADE no