The times., 1898-05-27
FRANCE IS LESS HOSTILE
Sober Second Thoughts Peryade
the Minds of Leaders.
FALSE STEPS OF THE PRFSS
Friendship Between England and
America Locked Upon With Dis
may-IieniEIs That Americans Are
COIdls Treated I'm Prris-Opinions
OF Leading French Journals.

Paris, May 26-There is nothing more
remarkable in Paris, and. one may say,
in France. than the spirit OF nervousness
existing with regard 10 what is Ameri-
cas- real sentifent toward France.
1t is manifest that the press realizes
that 1t took a false step at the outbreak
of hostiliies between Spain and the
United States. and now the papers have
come to a confused halt They are feel
ing their way in the dark. and wondering
what their next move should be.
OF course. la perfide Albion is always
there to be struck at, and. as usual. she
is being accused of having created the
unpleasant feeling that undoubtedly ex-
lists between this country and America.
In fact, 1t is not going too far to say that
were war to be declared between the two
nations Americans would hardly be held
responsible by the French. while the Eng
lish would be roundly accused of having
brought it about.
There is noticeable change In the pa
pers day by day. The GauIois Is nerv-
Gus. The Figaro is hedging. The Temps
is dignified and courteous. The Debats.
evidently looking TO the future, fears
complications; and, in fact, sees danger
ahead
The news that the Queens birthday had
been celebrated in America Is printed in
all the papers without comment, which
is ominous sign. 1t is impossible to
deny that the rapprochement between
England and America is viewed here as
a threatening indication for the future.
hrir fn IN l.
ize that a portion of the press has been
responsible for this state of affairs. This
stretching out of England 5 hand toward
America. with a responsive gesture on the
part of the American Republic. Is felt to
be full of menace for France. Not only
Is 1t q loyal and profitable customer lost;
1t is also n weakening OF the long-stand-
ing sympathy between France and the
United States.
OF course, there is absolutely no truth
in the rumor that Americans are either
badly treated or coldly looked upon here
On the contrary, people, individually, are
trying by every means in their power 10
show that they have been misrepresented
by their papers. Americans are receiving
all the courtesy to which they have al
ways been accustomed from the French.
At the same time the situation may be
summed up in one phrase; France is dis
coming a unit for peace, and she fears
also for war.
The Debats denfends in it's evening
edition the conduct of the war by the
Americans. 1t says: ITO cause the most
damage to the enemy to use it up bit
by bit. is way of conducting a campaign
that may be less brilliant. but is often
surer than a series of massacres. II is
forgotten too often by those eriticising
. h.. haf oh of "a ms ms
is TO drive the SDaniards out of Cuba
that the latter want 20 remain there,
and that one of the two adversarieS
which becomes uncontested master of the
sea is certain of success. The game of
the Americans, therefore, is to seek to
destroy at any cost the Spanish fleet
The Debats then sums UP for and
against the present situation, without
committing itself to any definite opinion.
but il shows that all is not hopeless for
Spain. even though Admiral CerYera' S
fleet may be blocked in Santiago.
The Temps has a sarcastic leader upon
the news that Mr.. Goshen, of the ad-
miralty board, and Mr.. Austin Chamber
lain have left for Gibraltar. 1t uses this
departure as a peg upon which To hang
denunciation of England's policy, and
drags in a reference to the feeling of
sympathy which France has for America.
which feeling, according to the Temps,
England has been doing her best 10 de-
stroy with series of stupid inventions.
The Gaulois gives the news of the war
in rather flippant style. sneering at the
announcement that hospitals at Key
West are being put in readiness to re-
ceive the wounded in the expected battle
NJ Marc Landry. in the Figaro. says:
THE sensational news of the day is the
announcement apparently well founded,
that the American squadron has received
orders not to blockade the Spanish force
or to wait until II issues from Santiago
but to sail boldly in and attack it in the
bay. The important point in considering
this news is to know that in the state of
defensive works covering the narrow en-
trance to the bay-if there are, as 1t is
reported, fixed torpedoes laid and bat
teries on the caost-forcing the pass will
be most dangerous. and one that will
cost a deal of trouble to the American
admiral
Speaking of the naval preparations in
Spain, he regrets that the reserve squad
ron has had to postpone its departure
from CadiZ. and hopes that it is true that
the work is being pushed on with all ra-
pidity, so as to get the vessels ready for
sea.