The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-19
of France Destroying
Business.
Friendliness For Spain Causing
Public Uprising.
AMERICANS LOYAL
French Hasten to Proclaim Re-
gard For z. s.
Paris Papers Denounce the Mis-
taken Policy.

New York, May ia Herald dis
patch from Paris says:
Mr. Chamberlain's sensational speech
is undeniably responsible for a decid-
ed feeling of nervousness here. The
French press begins to see it has adopt
ed a mistaken policy in declaring so
pronouncedly for Spain, as opposed to
the United States. The Debats in a
leader published on Monday tries to
smooth away matters, but "quis ex
cuses accuse" 1t admits that the Eng
lish have prof1ted by the action Of
France in this matter. 1t says:
America is entering upon an en-
1arged international career and it is
very important to the French that
Americans do not begin with precon-
ceived ideas against US and that they
do not renounce their good underst and-
ing with US, so useful in the past and
still more desirable for the future. We
have shown how ably England, dis
satisfied with the attitude of the con-
t1nenta1 powers, is creating relations
with the United States which she is
trying to bring to her policy. We there
fore ought to avoid all mistakes, that our
adverSarieS, always vigilant might turn
to our disadvantage.
THE moment is passed,to sit in judg-
ment on the war. France has never
been really hostile to the Americans.
This will be we'll understood across the
Atlantic where the present misunder-
friends of Spain have something better
to do than to declain against her ad-
Versaries.''
The tone of the article is one of the
fear that things have gone too far.
Businesses which depend largely for their
success upon the patronage of Ameri-
cans have already felt the effects of the
Quasi-campaign against the United
States in favor of spain. The proprie-
tor of one of the hotels here inveighed
bitterly against the attitude taken by
the French press. The numbers OF
Americans staying in the hotel is SEN
sibly less than at the same time last
year.
AT Voisins, where this season there is
usually a big crowd of Americans or
Spaniards, there were, the other night
only two diners in the rooms. Costum-
erS, jewelers., milliners and other bust
ness enterprises see their season vir-
tually ruined by the diminished number
of American clients.
The Figaro yesterday morning tried
to turn the affair off with a laugh in an
article which says: 1T is finished
France is going to be boycotted by
American miIlfonaires and by the pref
ty Americans who will no longer get
their dresses from Paris"
Then in a bantering way, the writer
asks where they will get them. Ger
tainIy not in London, where tailor made
costumes and bicycling skirts can be
made admiral bly,, but a full dress
never. Certainly not in America and
certainly they will never consent to be
badly dressed.
LAS to the millionaires, they will
surely come to Paris,'' continues the ar
ticle, Gin search of a more agreeable,
more intellectual and more artistic life
than is led in America"
A long list of those who habitually
stay a long portion of each season in
Europe, is given but there is a serious
tone underlying the jest.
In the same issue of the Figaro, ap-
pears a dispatch from its London cor
respondent telling of the grievous state
of public opinion there. Mr.. Chamber
lain is believed to have spoken for the
entire cabinet and the correspondent
insists upon the gravity of the situa-
ton. The people are already talking
of a possible FrancO-English conflict.
With this fear before them, and with
the practical results of the loss of
American custom staring them in the
face, the people here are very gloomy
in their representations, in spite of
their disclaimers. 1t is evident that the
French look upon the rapprochement
of the English and the Americans with
disquietude. 1t is such a natural alli-
ance that they realize it will some day
be made and they begin to fear they
have FASTENED that day by their dis
play of hostility to the United States
over the war with Spain.