The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-01
A BITTER ENTENTE


was promised, adding that Great
Britains explanation that the advance
was necessary in the interest of Egypt
was viewed with skepticism in France.
NJ. Bourgeois replied that the note
was semi official and could not be dis
cussed by the senate.
NJ. Bardoux protested against the
present governments action regarding
NADIA gascar, objecting to the policy OF
annexation which had been substitu-
ted for the protectorate of France over
that island. thus creating difficulty &C
cording to the senator NJ. Bardoux
also complained that the explanations
of M. Bourgeois in regard to Egypt
were inadequate, and asked if the
government had any hope that Great
Britain would fulfill her promises. To
this question NJ. Bourgeois replied
that the French government had
IN NO WAY RECEDED
from the attitude which France had
taken UP toward Egypt, but he added
that the government could not enter
into details at present as negotiations
were still in progress on the subject
with Great Britain. The matter was
then dropped
The statement of NJ. Bourgeois was in
the form of the following answer to the
several questions put to him by M.
Bardoux:
To the first question. rs it true that
Sir Robert Hart has been appointed
postmaster general dn addition to his
post of inspector general of customs)
by the Chinese governments" The pre-
mier answered he had no official noti-
fication of such appointment but that
the senate might be assured that should
China decide to appoint, in larger
measure, foreigners as agents for the
organization of internal administration
the French government would not fail
to obtain for the French citizens fair
share.
THAT LOAN.
To the second question, rs it true
the loan which China has just contract
ed has been granted to British firms?"
NJ. Bourgeois answered: THE new
Chinese loan was offered with the guar
antee of the Russian government; 1t has
no other security except the balance OF
the customs revenue which is reserved
as a guarantee for the previous loan
contracted by an English company, and
also for the Russian-Chinese loan of
last year The French company, which
has acted in concert with the Russian
firms in this matter, could not afford
to grant to the Chinese government the
conditions which it demanded and
which were accepted by the British and
German firms"
To the third question, rs it true
China has opened the 81 Kiong (West
river to foreign navigation in spite of
promises to the contrary" the pre-
mier answered.: mo promise was ever
made by the Chinese government ON
the subject 1t is needless to say that
should the river be opened it would
not be privilege
RESERVED TO ANY ONE NATION,
important to Canton, where Lyons buys
her silk. would also take advantage
of it. At all events the French gov
eminent has received assurances the
river will not be opened unless we OBJ
tain at the same time for French
company the concession of railroad into
China
To the fourth question, What dec
larations has Mr.. Curzon, British I'M
der secretary of state, made on the
customs duties to be established at
have we made on the subject. and
what answer have We received?" NJ.
Rourgeois answered. 1T is Impossible
to traat off-hand such AN important
question. When the bill on the NADIA
gascar tariff comes before the house
ieNery needed explanation will be. given
to the senate. We have notified the
powers we have taken
POSSESSION OF MADAGASCAR.
1.-The great majority of the powers
have acknowledged our notification
without comment. Only two govern
ments have asked for further partlc-
uars, and we are preparing answers
conformably to the spirit of the bill
now pending before the house
Concerning Egypt, M. Bourgeois
spoke as follows: THE senate knows,
by declaration made on March 10, by
NJ Berthelot, the views of the French
government on the British PROPOSE
ton. You know, gentlemen, what has
been the attitude of our representative
on the Egyptian debt commission. The
Russian commissioner has fully shared
these views. Both have maintained in
full accord the competency of the COM
mission in a question of such import.
Their views not having been accepted,
both retired from the commission af-
ter having made protest. / shall not
speak of the legal action that has been
brought by several French bondhold-
ers against the Egyptian government
and the commission; on the other
hand, the
VIEWS OF THE FRENCH
government have been brought to the
knowledge Of the British government
and negotiations are progressing. The
senate will understand that it is not
possible just now to give more de-
tailed explanations as to these nego-
tiations. [ must confine myself to a
statement of the prudence and firm
ness with which these negotiations are
being conducted by us. Allow me to
remind you that France, in the stand
she took, has met the firm support of
Russia, and 1 may add that the en-
tente between the two nations was
never more complete and cordial than
now. l am happy to conclude with
these assurances, and ! hope they may
be received by you in such a way uhe
government will find in your appro-
baton more authority to persevere in
its foreign policy"