The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-20
FRIENDSHIP
OF FRANCE
ASSuranceSRcceivedF From
French Capitol.
SENTIMENT In OUR FAVOR
Sensational Editors and Small In
vestors For Spain.
SENTIMENT In OUR FAVOR
INFLUENTIAL PAPERS WITH US.

Washington, May 2C.-As result OF
recent exchanges between the officials
of the state department and those or
the French embassy, an agreeable un-
derstanding has been reached which
gives assurance OF a continuance or the
traditional friendship between the
United States and France. II has served
TO make clear that each government mas
the fullest confidence in the friendly at
titude of the other, and that any criti-
cisms or animosity aroused by recent
incidents in the war have not been
shared by the government officials OF
either country.
Inthe recent exchanges the attitude or
some Of the Partisan newspapers In criti-
cism of the United states as well as
those of this country In criticism or
France. has been gone over. 1t was
pointed out by the state department Of
flcials that they had expressly dis
claimed any sympathy or endorsement
Of these criticisms and that at most they
were private expressions in no way re-
fiectlng the feeling OF the United States
government toward France. The French
the press criticisms came from an un-
representative class of radical Partisan
newspapers and in no way represented
the cordial sentiment entertained by
the French government and French peo-
pie toward the United States. 1t was
shown also that the more influential and
representative journals in touch with the
government maintained the most friend
AL
All misapprehension on the steamer
Lafayette incident and the alleged de-
laying OF official dispatches from Mar
Unique was cleared UP. AS to the
Lafayette, the state department never
questioned the good faith OF the French
authorities. and as to the delay in dis
patches. this was disposed of by the fact
that the messages came over the British.
not the French, cable line. Altogether
the exchanges have produced pleasant
impression on both sides and a feeling
that any apparent estrangement be-
tween the two countries has been over
come. r
Mr.. Robineau OF Paris. who is prom
inently identified with Partisan journal
ism. has arrived here. While represent
ing two papers which are identified with
the French government, he also has n
semi-ofiicial mission 10 perform. 1T Is
a matter OF the greatest surprise to
French people," said he. that this in
explicable feeling OF animosity should
have arisen between people who have
been bound together by the closest ties
of friendship from the days of your
revolutionary war We ask ourselves:
What does IL meanY I oome directly
from Paris and am able to say that
neither the French government nor the
French people have any sympathy or
friendship for Spain. while they have
the greatest possible friendship for the
United States. You hear Of certain III
feeling I'm Paris, but the cause OF II IN
plain. The French people invested about
500. 900 900 francs I'm the Panama canal
and lost amost every penny of It, 1t
came out or the pockets OF the poor peo-
pie. 1t was fearful loss to that class
OF people. Now this same class has
made another investment IN Spanish
securities. While a small part OF those
securities Is held by French capitalists,
the great bulk OF IL, about 400 900
francs. Is held by the poor throughout
France. Naturally. with all their saw
ings invested in Spanish bonds. they look
upon war with Spain as threatening an
other loss such as that from the Panama
failure. That Is the basis for any ap-
parent sympathy In France for Spain.
1t is only the minor French papers. those
recognized as sensational and 'incen-
diary, that express sympathy for Spain.
The solid press of Paris. the semi-offi-
ciai press, expresses the view OF the
French people at large. which is always
cordial to the United States and never
friArdIxr N