The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-05
An Alleged Interview With the
Minister Of Marine
Held to Show That France Has Not as Yet
Buried the Hatchet.
The Minister Quoted as Saying
That War With Great Britain
is Inevitable, and That the
French will Attack the British
at the First Opportunity.

LONDON, Feb. 4.-Queen Victoria IS
to return to Windsor from Osborne on
Tuesday next and will receive the new
United States ambassador, Joseph II.
Choate. who will present his credentials
before her majesty starts for the III
veria.
Mr.. Choate's reputation as a wit ana
as bright after dinner speaker mas
preceded him. The newspapers are full
Of his witty sayings, and the stories
credited to him. some true, but mostly
apocryphal In fact, from the mo-
,nent he sets foot on British soil, Mr..
Choate will be expected to coruscate
like a brilliant
An alleged interview with the French
Minister of Marine, NJ. Lockroy, pup
lshed in a Rome paper, has created
considerable stir in some quarters III
London, as it is held to show that
France has in no wise buried the
hatchet. but is determined to attack
Great Britain at the first opportunity
People here, however, can hardly credit
the veracity of the interview, in which
M. Lockroy begins by describing the
British naval organization as being ''all
humbug," and says 1.-The English have
only the brutal force of numbers"
The Minister of Marine is also quoted
as declaring that war with Great
Britain is inevitable, and he is said to
have added, in consequences:
''Let England continue to construct
big warships. Our naval program is
for steel plated, powerful, swift cruis-
ers, torpedoboat destroyers and sub
marine boats"
The British newspapers have appar-
emily taken these utterances seriously,
and are urging the Government to re
ply to words with deeds.''
The French menaces seem to accord
with confidential information to the eff
feet that military and naval circles
here are convinced that France means
war. Secret advices, it appears, have
been received at the British War Of
flee showing that the French authori-
ties are preparing for the struggle. In
fact, it is even said that the Napoleon
ic idea of an invasion of Great Britain
is revolving in the minds of the French
military authorities, and that, at the
present moment, a gradual but silent
movement of troops is said to be pro-
ceeding toward the north coast of
France, where. in two months time, it
is asserted about 10000 men will be
concentrated
The British war authorities are de-
termined not to wait Frances conven-
fence, but to "call her hand" as they
did in the Fashoda incident, and they
will declare that they regard this con-
centration of troops as an act of war,
In the meanwhile the British navy is
paying the greatest attention to gun
merry. The channel squadron this week
has been engaged every morning in fir
ing practice at moving targets. The
results are being carefully noted.
The publication of Sir Robert Peel's
correspondence has thrown a strong
Tight on the late Benjamin Disareli's
CLord Beaconsiield's) political morality
1t is pointed out that seldom has the
lie direct been brought home so con-
clusively. The letters show Disareli as
abjectly imploring Sir Robert Peel for
office in 1871 and indicate that he also
had his wife write to Peel in the same
strain, but without success. Soon after
Disraeli turned on Peel and hurled all
kinds of satire and abuse at him Peel
in replying to this virulent attack, ex-
pressed surprise that Disareli should
have wanted to join his ministry
whereupon Disraeli. with unblushing
effrontery, rose and said:
Il can assure the House that moth
Ing of the kind has occurred / never
asked favor of the Government, and
with respect to my being solicitous for
Office, it is entirely unfounded"
Sir Robert Peel, it further appears
with wonderful self-restrain and re-
spect for the good name of the House.
refrained from producing the letters
showing that Disraeli did not tell the
truth. but the letters now published
prove Disraeli's dishonesty.
A topical duet, John Bull and
Brother Jonathan skit on land
grabbing. is having great vogue in the
Paris music halls. In the dialogue John
Bull takes an atlas, tears out the map
of each country. crumnleS 1t LIN and