The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-25
|FRlENDLY FRANCE..
Minister Del Case Explains the Gov.
ernment's Foreign Policy.
BLUSTER IS NOT STRENGTH
He Asserts the Partition OF China Is
Imminent.
MAINTENANCE OF THE OPEN DOOR
Is to Be Sought by the Present Cabinet OF
France.
MAINTENANCE OF THE. OPEN DOOR
NE SUGGESTS TRASsyAAl ARBITRATION
mt VIII Not Take the Initiative
Excellent Commercial Treaty At
ranged with United states.

Paris. November 24,-In tho chamber OF
deputies today, during the discussion "a
the foreign estimates. Count Montaisne'
asked for explanations MS
to the incident of a British cruiser stop
ming and boarding French steamer, the
Cordova, In Delagoa bay.
NJ. Del Case. the minister of foreign
affairs, replied that II was not an Isolated
case. Belligerents, during war. he eN-
p,ained. had the right TO ascertain ITO
nationality os any vessel, and, he adlea
IL the British cruisers only did this they
had acted within their rights.
Turning to the situation In China ana
the recent incidents In Kwang- CHAIRMAN
province. the minister reviewed the con-
cossions obtained by other nations and said
Frances share had been inferior 20 Great
Britaln's. He continued: 1--WE took what
we thought to be the most ronvellent
spot. but we must husband our resources
for efforts when our vital interests may
render IT necessary. Our immense empire
and frontier In China ought 90 keep US
from impatient enterprises which might
cost us dearly. the partition OF emma
is imminent. Russia has reached re Chi
Lii because she has not met with great
resistance. Our zone OF influence lies be-
yond Tonquin The point in dispute Is "a
a poor province, but what Is Important
10 us Is that China has undertaken NOT
In Weld the neighbDring provinces to ths
! influence OF any one power. tCheers.)
| We must seek to maintain the open
door
| Referring to the Trnnsvan' the
| foreign minister snid lie favored
mediation and arbitration, but az
not deem 1t opportunc to take th'
iDitiatiye, us the powers had MOI
vet signed The Hague protocol.
Touching upon the lingering newspaper
structures as to the Fashoda settlement,
the minister remarked: Some papers make
it a business of dwelling on our national
humiliation The Cover nmont took u
decision which IL was quite justiheo III
doing and a subsequent treaty gave
France vast territory and consolidated our
African empire. The governments adj
versarles wish France TO be powerful III
Europe and insist that she ought to lnter-
ycne everywhere. They unconelousIy de-
mand the eternal aggrandlzcment as II
we did not have already an immense COLO
NAL empire to develop. We shall consult
the country's interests and not seek DOUBT
full popularity. When the government
considers where our vital Interests lie ana
the fact that tho population of France
| increases but little, it comes to the con.
| clusion that IL ought rather TO devote itE
efforts to maintain what is acquired rather
than seek ACKNOWLEDGMENT" tCheers.)
Abiding to the commercial agreement
with the United States NJ. Del Casse said;
by clear and simple policy we have
thus acquired the friendship Of some and
the esteem OF all"
The speaker then denounced those uu-
scrupulous politicians who exploit the
noble sentiments OF the country in order
TO excite public opinion against the gov
eminent"
He recalled the fact that Germany, on
the morrow of her victories, was Obliged
to seek an alliance. and said: The Iron
co. Russian alliance, opposed to the drei-
bund. has been drawn closer. and this
alliance, which guarantees peace at pres
ent, admits of far reaching projects In
the future and ought TO encourage US
/ to perseyere In the existing line OF policy
Abiding to the commercial agreement
! with the United States M. Del Case said !,
I'VE have concluded with the United
States a commercial agreement aud when
| the matter is discussed we VIII have lttlo
| difficulty In showing We have scrup-
ulously safeguarded our interests This
agreement Will give a fresh impetus to
the commerce OF the two peoples who
are united by history AMI similarity OF
political institutions and can never cease
to be so. save by a misunderstanding OF
their evident interests. 1t Is by endeayor-
ing to smooth differences, BY conciliatng
interests and by SURPRISING as far az
possible the sources OF conflict. that We
have obtained the friendship Of some and
certainly the esteem of all. am aware
thai some journals urge an opposite poi-
Icy, the policy OF shaking the first at all
tie world, policy which implies stuDefy-
ing ignorance or the shameless exploita-
ton OF noble sentiments. fCheers) Who
doss not see what risks TO dignity anil
safety our country would run by such an
attitude? But you will never tolerate
such a policy. BIuster does not mean
strength" fcheers)
! The general opinion In the Hobbies vas
that the speech OF NJ. Del Case would
produce an excellent impression at hons
and abroad. The entire chamber except
tire nationlists and ati-semites appiaulal.
The foreign minister was very careful 70
avoid SAYING ANYTHING to wound the sue
capabilities OF any country. An e.. lsna-
tion OF his aIlnsion to the dual allisncn Is
found In his recent conferences WIKI tie
! Russian foreign minister. Count Nura-
vieh. 10 Paris and st Petersburg.
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SAMOAN TROUBLES.