The San Francisco call., 1898-07-31
FRANCE GROWS
 MORE CORDIAL Sentiment of Press and
 Officials. FRIENDSHIP FOR AMERICA DECLARE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD. Semi Official Assurance That No Ob- stacle Will Be Placed in the
 Way of Our Settlement
 of the War.
FRIENDSHIP FOR AMERICA
DECLARE THAT THEY HAVE
 BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.
Copyrighted, 1898. by the Associated Press.

Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated Press.
 PARIS, July 30.-There is a strong desire in French official circles to bring about a complete resumption of the pleasant relations with the United States which existed previous to the trouble between Spain and America, and which were disturbed by French newspaper utteranceS. It Is pointed out that the nearer the Spanish-Ameri- can war comes to a close the clearer it Is to sober minded Frenchmen that public opinion in America has been mistaken in regard to the real opinion and feeling of France toward the United States. It is added that in spite of what was written in the news papers here or discussed Tn official cir cles when the war began no doubt was entertained anywhere in France as to the result of hostilities. The weakness and inferiority of Spain were so evil dent that, 1t is claimed here. it would be unfair now to assert that the Ameri- can victories have caused a change of public opinion in France, and that the French newspapers to-day think it time to favor the conqueror.
 In explanation of the tone of the French press toward the United States, it is said that the language used by the newspapers at present is in sub- stance the same as was used three months ago, and that the reason the Amer .can people have been under the impression that the French newspapers were hostile to the United States and favorable to Spain is that only the ass sensible part of the French press was III -k,, ,lo such papers as the Journal de Debats, the Figaro and the Temps and some others have not favored either side III the war and have furnished their read CTS with honest accounts of the differ ent feat ures of the hostilities.
 Continuing, 1t is argued that some of the leading members of the French Dress 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 h. siness men who were similar ly interviewed were even more em- phatic in their expressions of friend ship toward America.
 Finally, the Frenchmen say that the recent celebration of the Fourth of July here was the occasion of bringing forth additional proof of the cordial feeling entertained among Americans. At the banquet of the American Cham V prominent Frenchmen present, includ ing some of the highesN state officials, and NJ Marujoule, the Minister of Commerce, speaking for the French Government said:
 "We have been told that far away on the other side of the Atlantic there are those who have listened to calumni- ators in France who asserted that France was forgetful of her duty and that we have become not only adver saries, but, according to some reports. even discourteous toward America. l protest against such an impression. My word is sufficient to dispel such ridiculous idea, and l hope that the echo of what I say will be carried from this banquet hall to the other side of the Atlantic as an indignant protest against the false report as to the senti- ments of France toward America.
 But if this is not sufficient. let me as- sure your countrymen that not day, not an hour, not @ minute has elapsed during which the harmony which ex- ists 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 Embassa- dor and a Minister of the French Cab inet the degree of cordiality manifested in connection with our reciprocal rela- tions."
 This statement of the French Minis ter 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.
 son why France should side with Spain, as during the past century there has "been no common ideal" between the two countries, and the Frenchmen of to-day are not led by clerical consid- erations nor by the theory of so-called Latin races, which, It is further as- serted. is no longer taken seriously by anv sensible man. From a semi-of- ficial source the following statement was made:
 "From commercial standpoint, France is as much interested in Amer ican as in Spanish trade, and conse- ouently she has no reason to leopard ize her friendly relations with the Tinted States. Still she feels sym nathv for her unfortunate neighbor and rejoices heartily at the fact that peace Is to be arranged and that the French Ambassador, M. Cambon. had been the messenger of peace.
 "As to the terms upon which peace will be arranged, the French Govern ment and public opinion in France are perfectly aware that the United States will no longer De SdllSHeo Wltl tIlS mere independence of Cuba, consider ing that the war has cost her consid- erable. Consequently, the French press, and especially the Journal des Debats and Temps are already taking into account that important element in the settlement of 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 difficult In fact, it deserves to be pointed out that France does not make any objec- ton to the United States increasing either it's strength or it's 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 European power she is not that 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 possessions in America be- ing small and unimportant, consisting of some little islands and French Guiana Therefora aha feels sure that