The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-04
DELCASSE ON FRENCH POLICY.
In Nava. War, He Says. Europe Would
Combine Against Britain.


NJ. Isaac Pavlovsky, Paris correspond
ent of the Rossyia. a st. Petersburg jour
nal, has had an important conversation
with 81. Delcasse, French Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
The conversation, says the Rossyia, took
place at a dinner where there were pres
emf two leading senators and a deputy
1t turned on Frances foreign policy and
also on certain press attacks made on NJ
Delcasse, both in st. Petersburg and in
Paris. The great reprOach made against
him by his adversaries is that he is a
friend of Great Britain. Mr.. Pavlovsky
told him that a st. Petersburg journal
even called him an .'Anglomane."
'Anglomane!' said NJ. Delcasse, laugh
ing and struggling his shoulders. What
can one reply to such rubbish? When 4
man directs the foreign affairs OF his
country he is a F'renchman, nothing more
nor less and that without even party dis
>tinction. He does his best to maintain
an imperturbable serenity of mind, and
he keeps in view the interests OF the
country.
1T is natural" added the Minister,
that ! should follow my own policy aud
not that Of others. Otherwise I should
not be here. The chamber declares 1 am
in the right. That sufIces for me.
lIley say, he went on, Thai &iiIei
the Transvaai war the British will attack
Us Very frankly, 1 do not believe it. But
let US admit it, since in politics every
thing has to be foreseen. If such be their
Intention they will find resolute adrersa-
ries The African Coast is differently
fortified now from what is was 4 gear
ago and it is the same with lndo-
China and Madagascar. They cannot but
know that our colonies are guarded.
H. y of IA l.
casse. II spoke on that subject clearly,
inn CINE, in my recent speech when | said
it was necessary to keep watch over the
approaches to our colonies We are on
the most friendly terms with Spain. and
we have no desire to go TO Morocco. But
We shall allow one else to touch II,
either
Speaking OF possible British distrust Of
France NJ. Delcasse said:
The British know very well that we
have no interest to go 10 war with them,
because there is nothing we can take
from them. I am also we'll aware that
of the $500 0I0,C Goo francs Of French eX-
ports Great Britain takes 1900 tOogeo
francs (about $3.50. COO, GOOD.
From tie .onial point of view we are
conservatives. We need to put to profit
the colonies we already possess and not
10 acquire others Moreover. even in
\
Britain.
The case of Germany is different She
must expand colonialiy on account OF the
great progress of her industries.
Il admit only one reason for which
Great Britain might desire war with
France. In provision for a formidable
and possible coalition Of the European
fleets Great Britain might desire {; war
in order TO destroy our navy before 1t be-
c+jII CHI
wal: is not so easy to declare and con-
duet as is iInag ined. War is not declared
so simply There must be a preteXt. And
this pretext we shall never give During
the Fashoda affair Great Britain was on
tirmer diplomatic ground than she VIM
ever be again. One does not oppose lZo
men to an army. Our African Coast at
that moment was also III a STATE very
inferior to. its present condition
There Is something else. From the
point OF view of a naval war with Great
Rritain there-is a solidarity among all the
states of Europe. A fleet may be destroy
ed. But if it takes six years to recpnSt-
tute an army it takes a quarter OF a
century to recopstitute q navy There
fore. if Great Britain succeeded IN de-
strovine. a feet like ours it would De al.
the easier for her to deal atterWard WITH
weaker fleets that are younger. Ana
ever if the solidarity thus created did not
EXIST. Great Britain knows that we are
rot simple enough to allow our navy to
be destroyed If 1t cannot usefully leave
port it will remain in safety.
land, then, what could Great Britain
do against US? She cannot pretend to
fight us on land. I suppose? And this war
would have yet another disastrous slde
for Great Britain-the commercial SIDE
Her commerce is chiefly maritime ours
;- chiefly continental
"This brings me- said NJ Delcasse,
"to speak of the Russian alliance-that
alliance which certain persons think weak
ened. If told you that our relations
with Russia are most cordial 1t would pc
a mere phrase. But I will tell you more.
these relations have never been so full OF
confidence as they are now.