Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-30
RESTLESS FRANCE
Seems "looking for Trouble" in
England's Direction.
PARIs1ANs ON THE RAGGED EDGE.
Rumors More or Less warlike Flying
Round and an Attempt to "Bust" the
Ministry in Prospect-Foreign Ministers
Resignation Opens Wide Field for
fully Toward Germany.


Resignation Opens a Wide Field for
Observation-Disclosures Looking Hope
fully Toward Germany.
PARIS, March 30-The political world
of France is again in a highly perturbed
condition, and there are indications going
| to show that the government seeks to re.
trace some of the steps by which it has
been placed In the position of impotent
acquiescence in the dispatch Of an Egyp-
tian expedition up the Nile and the de-
/ fraying Of the expenses of it out of the
Egyptian debt surplus. The government
| will be interpeilated in the chamber of
deputies and the ministers will be under
| the necessity of making some kind of
statement in reply. An important debate
is expected to result and there is a feeling
| in some quarters that far.reaching changes
of policy may be announced.
Some warlike Rumors Abroad.
The air is electric with expectation and
numerous rumors are current of grave
those which are circumstantially formu-
| lated are that the resignation of Berthelot
as minister of foreign affairs, announced
| Saturday, was connected with the wish of
Bougcois. the premier, to recall Baron dc
Courcel, the French ambassador in Lon
| don; that Frances naval reserve squad
| ron has been ordered to be placed upon q
| war footing, and that France and Russia
| will convene European conference to
discuss the powers of the Egyptian debt
| commission to act against the vote of a
minority of the powers guaranteeing the
debt, and to discuss also the evacuation of
Egypt.
See Some Hope in Germany.
Whether the disturbed condition Of af-
fairs in South Africa gives Franco hope
| that there will be inserted the wedge to
break asunder again the newly formed
friendship of Great Britain and Germany
| is matter of surmise. But that France
| regards the alliance of Great Britain with
| the dreibund as less formidable because
| less well assured Is evident from MANY
| things. How far the German ministry
will rcassume the stiff attitude of protest
| against the Milo expedition adopted in
NJ. Berthelot's report of his communica-
| ton to Lord Dufferin when the expedition
was first announced, and subsequently
| softencd in face of the outbreak of un.
| bridled French patriotism, is tho ques-
rion of first interest in Paris, and which
| 1t Is hoped will be answered in the cham
ber of deputies.
France-Russian Entente Complete.
ST. PErERBufsd, March 3o.-The Rus.
sian newspapers are unanimous in oppos-
ing England's claim to employ the re.
| serve Of the Egyptian debt to pay tho ex.
penses of the Soudan expedition. This is
| necessarily an accurate reflection of the
views of the government, whose under
| standing with France on all aspects of
the Egyptian question is most complete.
| Both governments are now seriously con.
! sidering the adoption of q common polit.
ical attitude in order to formally estab-
lish their opposition to prolonged oc.
| cupation of Egypt, and thus to pave the
| way for effecting cooperation to secure
the evacuation of Egypt as soon as cir
| cumstanceS will permit