The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-24
.DELCASSE TALKS
 OF PANAMA POLICY
Foreign Minister JuStifieS Re-
 cogoition of Republic
INTERESTS WILL BE SAFE
France Had Only to Follow Example Set By the United states-cham- Der of Deputies Has h.
 terestine Session.

Paris, November 23.-Foreign Minister Decasse addressed the chamber of depu- ties today in reply to questions regarding foreign affairs. He opened with a state- ment in regard to the Panama question and said:
 T am asked for information concern ing the action of France. Here is what has been done Having received. informa- ton that Panama had constituted herself an independent republic we had only to consider that she had fulfilled the necessa- ry conditions for the maintenance of order and what guarantees she offered. From the French point of view, we have not been without apprehension for some time. It has been said at Bogota for several months that the decision of the Colombian government prolonging the canal conces- sion to 1910 was open to disputeN and that in 1904 the concession might have been de- clared to have lapsed. If this story had ever been put forward officially we would not have accepted it. It was our strict duty to demand from the republic of Pan anna assurances that all French interests including the canal concession, be respect ed. This assurance has been given in de- cisive form the following being the text ual form of the promise:
 "The republic of Panama solemnly, ex- plicitly and definitely pledges itself to vigiantly protect French interests and to maintain and interpret in their widest sense the contracts made before Novem- Der 3, which referring to the Isthmus. fol- low the transmission of sovereignty and bind the republic of Panama. All the con- tracts are maintained, notably the con- tract prolonging the cession until 1910"
 Follows U. S. Example.
 M. Delcasse continued: "Under these conditions we had only to follow the ex- ample set by the United States and per- init our agents to enter into relations with all the agents of the new republic"
 The declaration of the foreign minister was received with applause.
 M. Delcasse then described the condi- tions in Macedonia. He said the remedy for the abuses complained of was to &C., cord Macedonia reforms which can be applied to the entire population, without dinstinction of race or religion, and to extend to every individual protection and the enjoyment of the fruits of his work. The reforms must be controlled closely. Europe, if necessary, would bring relief and prevent new revolts. Russia and Austria had been charged to enforce the programme. In regard to Siam, M Del casse said the government was doing ev erything possible to arrive at pacific understanding.
 Referring to the Ango-French arbitra- ton treaty, M. Delcasse attributed it to the czar's peace pronouncement of five years ago, praised the entente with Great Britain and felicitated France on the reapproachment with Italy.
 France Paramount in Morocco.
 In Morocco the foreign minister said Nevertheless, French interests demand ed that the country be tranquil and in- dependent.
 the policy of the government Deputy Hub bart brought in a motion requesting the government to join with foreign powers for the purpose of limiting the military burdens of Europe Foreign Minister Del casse replied that it was not. the business of France to make proposals. The French government M. Delcasse said had already set the example, as its naval and military budgets had been decreased year by year, while the budgets of other pow CTS had been increased. If, said M. Del casse. the example set by France were fruitless, mere words would be unheed- dignity of the nation. It was not for France to take the initiative.
 After a heated discussion in which M Jaurez. socialist, took a prominent part, a resolution approving the foreign policy of the government was carried by an enormous majority.