The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-24
AFFAIRS OF
 THE FRENCH DelcasSe Tells of Foreign
 Relations. AGREEMENT OF PANAMA The Old Concessions Are Re-
 newed. This Having Been Done, Recognition Necessarily Followed--The Con- ditions in Macedonia and Morocco Ire Reviewed.

| Paris. Nov. zs.--Foreixn Minister De1- case addressed the Chamber of Depu- | ties today in reply to question regArd- | ing foreign affairs. He opened with a statement with reference to the Pananisz l question, and said:
 | T am asked for information concernS | ing the action of France Here is what
 has been done: Having received noti6ea- tion that Panama had constituted her self an independent republic we had only | to consider once she had fulfilled the l necessary conditions for the maintenance of order. 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 sev- eral months that the decision of the Co lombian Government prolonging the canal concession to 1910 was open to dispute. and that in 1904 the concession might be declared to have lapsed- If this theory. had ever ben put forward off1cialiy we would not have accepted it. Promises of Panama Tt was our strict duty to demand from the Republic of Panama assurances that all French interests concluding the cz- has been given us in decisive form, the following being the textuai form of the | promise:
 While the republic of Panama solemn ly. explicitly and definitely pledges itself to ,vigIiantly protect French interests and to maintain and interpret in their widest sense the contracts made November 6 which (rsferring Co the isthmusl follow the transmission of sovereignty and bind the republic of Panama. All these con | tracts are maintained. notabiy the con tract prolonging the concession until 1DiO.v
 M. Delcasse concluded:
 Under these conditions we had only ta follow the example set by the united | States and permit our agents to enter
 into relations with all the agents Of the new republic VI
 The declaration, ef the Foreign Minister was received with applause
 1 Refers to -Eacedonia. | M. Delcasse then described the condI- tions in. Macedonia. He said the remedy Flor the abuses complained of was to ace
 cord Macedonia reforms which can be
 applied to the entire population. without distinction of race or religion and to ex-
 tend 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 program. In regard to Siam, M. Del- casse said the government was doing everything possible to arrive ct a pa- cific understanding. Referring to the An- g'o Trench arbitration treaty, M Del- casse attributed it. to the Czar's peaco '. SAl1unceillens of five years ago. prais- ed the entente with Great Britain and felicitated France on the rapproachment with Italy.
 In Morocco. the foreign minister said in conclusion. France was paramount Nevertheless. French interests demand ed that the country be tranquil and tn- dependent.
 Reduction of Armament.
 At the close of the general debate on the policy of the government. Deputy Hubbart brought in motion requesting the government to join with foreign pow CTS for the purpose of limiting the militia ry burdens of Europe. Foreign Minister Delcasse replied that 1t was not the busi- ness of France to make proposals. The French Government, M. Delcasse said, had already set the example. as it's naval and military budgets had been decreased year by year while the budgets of other powers had been increased. If. said M. Delcasse, the example set by France were fruitless mere words would be unheeds6 and they would only compromise the dignity of the nation. It was not for France to take the initiative.
 After heated discussion in which M. Jaures (SociaisD took a prominent part, a resolution approving the foreign policy of the government was carried by an enormous majority.