The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-09
FOR WAR.
How France Looks Upon
England's Present Attitude.

Copyright, 1899, the Associated Press
London, Jan. S.-All events seem 10
work together in European politics to
increase the tension between Great
Britain and France. Madagascar and
Egypt are being brought forward as
irritants, just when the mutual irrita-
bility was subsiding.
Even the most conservative observ-
ers begin to take pessimistic view Of
the relations between the two powers.
This includes those who up to the pres
ent have considered the belligerency
to be mere talk due to supersensitive-
ness upon the part of France, and to
unnecessary gruffness upon the part
of Great Britain in insisting upon what
she considers to be her rights. On one
side France seems to foster the grow
ing belief that Great Britain is deter
mined, under some preteXt or other to
force her into war and is willing t.
make preteXt if no plausible excuse
arises.
On the other side, large party OF
the British public profess that theiI
patience has been strained beyond en-
durance by what they deem to be tho
unvarnished dishonesty of French iii
plomacy. The past "a hours brought
the publication of the Madagascar
blue book, which was followed by {
leading editorial in the Times denounc-
ing France in language so fiery fol
that conservative newspaper that
Frenchmen are reading the two to-
gether and are constituting them as
parts of deliberate policy inspiret
1 by one mind.
That mind N the tbaO,.x- Of tho n, q y,
in-the-street, is Joseph Chamberlain
the secretary of state for the colonies
Other papers may storm and scold an6
are not noticed but when the Times
becomes abusive, foreigners interpret
it as being the voice of the govern
ment. In the present instance some
Englishmen will place the same con-
Struction upon its utterances, recall.
ing how the Times led the mo surren-
der cry over the Fashoda incident, IN
der evident inspiration. One fact is
certain, public opinion in Great Brit.
ain will not sanction the government
to sWerVe an inch to avoid war with
France, thinking that if it must come
this is the best time to have it out.
/ Many people give importance to tht
issue of the Madagascar blue book al.
most simultaneously with the quiet
, out unmlStakaDle pronouncemelt al
Khartoum by which the British agent
there, Viscount Cromer, in his re-
marks to the sheiks, announced thai
Great Britain has set her seal upor
Egypt, If there ever was a doubt ir
the minds of her European rivals that
! Great Britain intended to foreclose thl
the mortgage upon which she has ex.
pended so much labor and blood to Sc.
cure, it must have been set at rest by
the utterances of Lord Cromer, II
which the word 'protectorate" wax
written in large letters, though TIL
governments mouthpiece carefully alb
stained from using that incendiarS
! word
4 A more definite notice that Great
/ Britain's tenure of Egypt is permanent
could not be asked. The British agen
I told the assembled shieks that hence
forth they will live under the Join
4 British and Egyptian flags. knowing
no sovereignty but that of the queer
and the khedive, which of cours,
means that the latter will he a harm
less figurehead. This formal assump
ton of sovereignty over tie Soudal
is more distasteful to France than t,
any other nation and renewed protest.
may be expected.