The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-17
FRENCH CABINET
MEMBER INDISCREET
Government Embarrassed by the Bel
lieerent Utterances of Mr.. Pelie-
tan, Minister of Marine.

PARIS, Sept. 16.-The needlessly Of
fensive illusions to Italy, Germany and
Great Britain made by M. Pelletan,
the marine minister, in a speech at
Ajaccfo, Corsica, and yesterday in a
speech at Bizerta, have caused con-
siderable surprise here, and are gen.
orally deprecated The only explana-
ton offered by F'renchmen is that M.
Pelletan has forgotten that he is now
a minister, and that he has been
speaking as Journalist. The foreign
minister, M. Deleasse, is said to have
been extremely veXed at M. Pelletan'S
utterances at Ajaccio, which are cal
culated to considerably irritate Italy
at a moment when the French gov
eminent had succeeded in dissipating
the ill-feeling which existed between
the two countries, and had established
an era of friendly relations. M. Pelle-
tan chose a very unfortunate moment
for his Ajaccio remarks, as it coin
cided with the kilograms Of the Count
of Turin to the French ambassador at
Rome, paying homage to the French
soldiers who fell at the battle of Sol
ferino in the Italian cause.
M. Pelletan's further blunder yester-
day at Bizerta in using insulting Ian
guage regarding Germany and Great
Britain has increased the annoyance
felt against him, and the French for
eign Office is yisibly embarrassed to
explain it away. An official there this
afternoon said: M Pelletan's re-
marks must be taken as strictly per-
sonal, and in no way rejecting the
general spirit Of the French govern
ment toward the powers mentioned"
It is reported that the French am
bassador at Rome will be instructed
to explain away NJ. Pelletan's Ajaccio
utterances. The Liberte observes that
M. Pelletan is thoroughly deserving of
the nickname of admiral Bombardos."
BERLIN, Sept. 16.-The German for
eign office treats M. Pelletan's Bizerta
speech lightly, and is disposed to at
tach no more Importance to it than to
the after dinner indiscretions of the
French minister of war, Gen. Andre,
few weeks ago, of which the German
government took no official notice.
M. Pelletan's utterances draw direct
attention to the French designs in the
Mediterranean. France, while Great
bTlCdlH WAS 6IlSdS0u III SOulH AlIlCol,
| made Bizerta as strong as Malta, and
France is now regarded as the strong
est Mediterranean power. Great Brit
ain has become aware of her rela-
lively lower position there and of
Frances activity during the war, and,
| according to diplomatic intelligence
| here, Great Britain is again looking
| for closer relations with Italy
M. Pelletan's reference to the .'bar-
barism Of old Germany" is treated by
the newspapers here with ridicule
rather than with indignation. They
adopt a jocular tone in characterizing
the French minister's utterances,
which are attributed to careless
sense Of his responsibility, and 1t is
assumed that they are highly embar-
RAISING to M. Delcasse and the other
members Of the French cabinet. The
Dautsche Tages Zeitung calls 1t a
Champagne speech" while others
point out that NJ. Pelletan was for
merly a journalist with a reputation
as a great phrase maker.
LONDON, Sept. -16.-What is desig-
mated as M. Pelletan's new diploma
cy" is not taken seriously in London.