The morning call., 1894-10-04

| oebsdtiohdi ueFtlop.uenGS In the FRENCH
Russian policy in the far East, but this
appears to be coUjectural rather than SOL
idly based. 1t is most probable that
France, encouraged By the recent appar-
ent weakness of the British Foreign Of
Iice, has suddenly sprung demand upon
tie Government which has staggered even
Kim berly. and which, if persisted in, will
bring about crisis which may result in
war, because Rosebery and his colleagues
have almost reached the limit of their
complaisance toward France
| The Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, the Earl of Kimberly, has been 10
communica ton with the Indian Govern
ment and preparations are being made to
concentrate English and Indian troops in
readiness to proceed further east 1t is
added that the sanction of the Cabinet is
necessary before further steps are posi-
| ble
| A dispatch from Portsmouth says rumors
are circulated there regarding extensive
naval operations. The heads of de-
partments at the dockyard held a confer
ence to-day, at which the opinion of off =
GERS was taken regarding the time the first
division of reserve ships could be put in
readiness TO put TO sea. The dispatch adds
the training squadron's departure for the
West Indies has been postponed from Sat-
urday to Wednesday. and if necessary the
cruise of this squadron will be abandoned
and the men on the trainIng-ships be trans
| ierred to a ship which will shortly be COM
| missoned.
All the afternoon papers gravely discuss
he hasty summOnng of the Cabinet Coun-
cll. 1t is generally accepted as being con-
| nected with some serious difficulty with
! France.
| The Liberal organ, the Westminster Ca
zette, handles the subject tenderly. evil
IDENTIFY anxious not to excite public opinion
and thereby emDarraSs the Government.
| On the other hand the Conservative mouth
pieces discnss the matter more fearlessly,
and warn France against encroaching upon
British rights.
The Pail Mall Gazette says: "The crisis
which necessitates the converting of the
| Cabinet Council must be very sudden, as
the Ministers we're dispersed on their holi-
days. 1t is quite possible. however, tn at
propositions have been made to settle vsri-
Gus differences" The Pail Mall Gazette
refers to an article printed to-day in La
PoIitique Coloniale at Paris, which reflects
| L. z,
and which gives, exclusive of the ques-
tions of Egyl and Madagascar, list of
eleven outstanding difficulties between
France and England. connected with
| frontier and similar disputes in the At
rcan colonies. The Politique Coloniale.
however, says many of these have prac-
,icaIly been settled, and none of them
would justify rupture unless one
country was bent upon picking a quarrel
with the other. which. the paper adds,
is not the case. The Pail Mall Gazette, in
spite of this. says the article in the Poll
tique Colonale is unfTiendly to the verge
of discourtesy, and, ''if it reflects the
spirit 10 which the French Ministers in
tend to discuss The difficulties with Eng
land we may prepare for trouble some
time. We do nos wish to quarrel with
| France, but on the othef hand, We are iu-
disposed to permit trespassing upon our
unquestioned rights. The bullying spirit
which tells Frenchmen they have only to
brag and bluff enough to force Eng
land to surrender may easily lead to
that belief" The Pail Nall Gazette then
continues: "The Dailv Chronicle says war
between France and England must be re-
garded as inconeeivable madness. 1t NAV
be madness, but i! is not inconceivabe
| France must be told courteously, but
firmly. that we have not the slightest de-
sire 10 attack or provoke her, but IL at
tackled we shall defend ourselves to the
last extremity"
The Globe also expresses a belief that
| the hurried calling of the Cabinet council
is due to disputes with France, adding:
We believe there is no ground for public
alarm or suspicion. but we cannot surren-
der any part of England's rights or shirk
any part of her duties. Our strained
relations with France are not the
matter of a days growth nor
connected entirely with Madagascar.
/ We have points in contact with
the French throughout the world, and at
each it is possible to have fostered an irri-
tation which may easily become strife.
1t is certain the tame way in which we
have allowed ourselves to be outwitted In
the far East during the last year and the
manner in which we stood by while
| France pariitoned our inheritance in Siam
have done much to persuade the more
| ignorant or hot-headed Frenchmen that
! England is not so vely terrible after all.
To-day's news of the blockade of the
island OF Madagascar sets at rest all
doubts as to the immediate business of
| to-morrow's Cabinet council. The Min-
listers have decided upon resolute course
OF action, and the public will await
With anxiety the news of their decision.
We want no panic nor war fevers, but we
need assurance that our interests will be
properly safeguarded and our allies pro-
tected. The French will find out that we
shall have a word to say about Madagas-
car before it is settled and Lord Rosebery
may rely upon the Unionists to support
him Loyalty and heartily in the interests
OF tue EN- pire.
The Sun says portion of the British
Channel fleet will be ordered to Gibraltar
TO re-enforce the British Mediterranean
| squadron.
MADAGASCAR BLOCKADEO.
The Story Meets Prompt Denial