The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-25
WILL MAINTAIN
THE OPEN DOOR
Policy of France in Chtna-Is Looking
for No More Territory Immense
Colonial Empire

Paris, Nov. 24.-In the chamber OF
deputies to-day during the discussion
of the foreign estimates, Count Man
talgue, conservative, asked for eXpla-
nations as to the incidents of British
cruiser stopping and boarding a French
steamer, the Cordobain, in Delagoa
bay. NJ Del Case. the minister of for
eign affairs, replied that it was not an
isolated case. Belligerents, during a
war, he explained, had the right to as
certain the nationality of any vessel
and, he added, if the British cruisers
only did this they had acted within the
rights.
Turning to the situation in China and
the recent incidents in Kwang Chau
Wan province, the minister reviewed
the concessions obtained bv other ma
tions. and said Frances share had been
inferior to Great Britains. He contin-
ued:
I'VE took what we thought to be the
most convenient spot. But we must
husband our resources for efforts our
vital interests may render necessary.
Our immense empire and frontier in
China ought to keep us from impatient
enterprise which might cost us dearly.
The partition of China is not imminent.
Russia has reached Pe-Chi-Li because
she has not met with great resistance.
Our zone of influence lies beyond Ton
kin. The point in dispute is in poor
province, but what is important to us
is that China has undertaken not to
yield the neighboring provinces to the
influence of any one power. We must
seek to maintain the open door"
Referring to the Transvaal the for
eign minister said he favored media
ton, but did not deem it opportune to
take the initiative, as the powers had
not yet signed The Hague protocol.
Touching upon lingering newspaper
structures as to the Fashoda settlement,
the minister remarked
Some papers made it a business of
dwelling on national humiliation. The
government took decision which it
was quite justified in doing, and sub
sequent treaty gave France vast terri
tory and consolidated our African en-
pire.
'.The governments adversaries wish
France to be powerful in Europe, and
insist that she ought to intervene ey-
serywhere. They INCREASINGLY demand
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, as If we did
not already have an immense colonial
empire to develop. We shall consult the
country'S interest and not seek doubt
full popularity. When the government
considers where our vital interests lie
and the fact that the population of
France increase but little, it comes to
the conclusion that it ought rather to
devote it's efforts to maintain what is
acquired rather than seek aggrandize-
ment.'
The speaker then denounced "those
unscrupulous politicians who exploit the
noble sentiments of the country, in or
der to excite public opinion against the
government. He recalled the fact that
Germany, on the morrow of her victo-
ries, was obliged to seek an alliance,
and said
The Franco Russian alliance oppos-
ed to the dreibund. has been drawn
closer and this alliance, which guaran-
tees peace at present. admits of far
reaching projects in the future, and
ought to encourage US to preserve in
the existing line of policy
Abiding to the commercial agreement
with the United States. M. Del Casse
said:
I'VE have concluded with the United
States a commercial agreement, and
when the matter is discussed we shall
have little difficulty in showing that
we have scrupulously safeguarded the
interests of our agriculture.
This agreement will give fresh inn
petus to the commerce of the two peo-
pies who are united by history and
similarity of political institutions. and
can never cease to be so, save by
misunderstanding of their evident in
terests.
1T is by endeavoring to smooth diff
ficulties, by conciliating interests and
by supporting as far as possible the
source of confidence that We have OBJ
tanned the friendship of some and GER
tainly the esteem of all. ...
Il am aware that some journals urge
an opposite policy, the policy of shaking
the fist at all the world. a policy which
implies stupefying ignorance or the
shameless exploitation of the noblest
sentiments. Who does not see what risks
to dignity and safety our country would
run by such an attitude? but you will
never tolerate such a policy. Bluster
does not mean strength"
The general opinion in the lobbies was
that the speech of M. Del Case would
produce an excellent impression at
home and abroad. The entire chamber,
except the nationalists and anti-sem-
ties. applauded. The foreign minister
was very careful to avoid saying any
thing calculated to wound the suscepti-
bilities of any country. An exclamation
of his allusion to the dual alliance is
found in his recent conferences with
the Russian foreign minister, Count
Muravieff, in Paris and st. Petersburg