The herald., 1898-07-31
HER MINISTERS DENY SHE HAS
EVER FAVORED SPAIN
PRESS DID NOT TELL TRUTH
Only the More Rabid and Less Influen-
tial Newspapers Have Been Quoted.
Sorry for Spain But Will Not Aid
Her in ANY Way



desire in French official circles to bring
about complete resumption of the pleas
ant relations with the United States which
existed previous to the trouble between
Spain and America and which We're dis
turbed by French newspaper utterances.
1t Is pointed out that the nearer that the
Spanish American war comes to close
the clearer it is to sober minded French
men that public opfniSn in America has
been mistaken in regard to the real opin-
ion and feeling of France towards the
United States. 1t is added that in spite
of what was written in the newspapers
here or discussed in official circles when the
war began, no doubt was entertained any
where in France as to the result of hos
tilities. The weakness and inferiofity of
Spain were so evident that, it is claimed
here, it would be unfair now to assert that
the American victories have caused a
change of public opinion in France, and
the French newspapers today think
It will soon favor the conqueror.
In explanation of the tone of the French
press towards the United States, it is said
that the language used by the newspapers
at present is in substance the same as
used three months ago and that the rea
son the American people have been under
the IMPRESSION llldt tllt flebtH utNS-
papers were hostile to the United States
and favorable to Spain is due to the fact
that only part of the French press was
quoted in the cable dispatches. while such
papers as the Journal des Debats, the
Figaro and the Temps ad some others have
not favored either side in the war, and
have furnished their readers with honest
accounts of the different features of the
hostiities.
Continuing, it is argued that some of the
leading members of the French press were
interviewed during the war and their
statements leave no room for doubt that
they entertained a cordial feeling toward
the United States, while French business
men, who were similarly interviewed, were
even more emphatic in their expressions of
friendship toward America
Finally, the Frenchmen say that the re-
cent celebration Of the Fourth of July here
was the occasion of bringing forth addi
tional proof of the cordial feeling enter
tanned among Americans. At the banquet
of the American chamber of commerce
there were many prominent Frenchmen
present, including some of the highest
state officials, and NJ. Marujoule, the min
lister of commerce, speaking for the French
government said:
1--WE have been told that far away on the
other side of the Atlantic there are those
who have listened to calumniators in
France, who asserted that France was for
getful Of her duty, and that we have be-
come not only adversaries, but, according
to some reports, even discourteous toward
America. I protest against such an i'm
preston. My word is sufficient to dispel
such a ridiculous idea, and hope that the
echo of what say will be carried from this
banquet hall to the other side of the At
lantic as an indignant protest against the
false report as to the sentiments of France
toward America. But If this is not suf
ficient let me assure your countrymen
that not a day, not an hour, not a minute
has elapsed during which the harmony
which exists between us has ever run the
risk of being broken. France has always
been for you a second country, and no one
knows better than your ambassador and
minister of the French cabinet the degree
of cordiality manifested in connection with
our reciprocal peace. They only hope that
America will not claim too much. Not
that France feels envious in view of the
increasing power of the United States, but
simply because too onerous conditions on
the part of America would make peace diff
ficult In fact it deserves to be pointed
out that France does not make any OBJ
lection to the United States increasing
either its strength or its dominions. The
reason for the quiet feeling of France in
this matter is that she is convinced that
If such an increase in any way threatens
q European power she Is not the power.
Even the annexation of Hawaii which
gives to the United States an important
possession In the Pacific, has not disturbed
France in the slightest degree, her possess
sons in America being small and unimpor-
tant, consisting of some little islands and
French Guiana; therefore, she feels sure
that the Americans, whom she considers
to be a practical people, will never think
of having trouble with a great European
power for such a trifing object.
"As to the Philippines, If those islands
are to be lost to Spain, France, as the ruler
of Indo-China, would probably prefer hav-
ing the Americans as next-door neighbors,
instead of any European of Asiatic power.
Consequently what France wants, so far
as the United States is concerned, is only
q proper consideration of her commercial
interests. In that respect she has been
thoroughly treasured by the willingness
the American government displayed on the
occasion Of the last commercial agree
future relations"
This statement Of the French minister
of commerce is reproduced here, as 1t is
being freely used by Frenchmen in their
arguments tending to prove that France
has not been unfriendly toward the United
States in the war with Spain.
They also argue that there is no reason
why France should side with Spain, as
during the past century there has been
no common deal' between the two coun-
tries, and that the Frenchmen of today are
not led by clerical considerations nor by the
theory of so-called Latin races, which, 1t
is further asserted is no longer taken
seriously by any sensible man.
From semi-official source the follow
ing statement was made
From u commercial standpoint France
iy as much interested in American as in
Spanish trade, and consequently she has
no reason to jeopardize her friendly rela-
tions with the United States Still she feels
sympathy for her unfortunate neighbor,
and rejoices heartily at the fact that peace
is to be arranged and that the French am
bassador, M. Cambon, has been the mes
senger of peace.
LAS to the terms upon which peace will
hA Arranged tha Eranch poyarnnaut md