New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
TOPICS IN PARIS.
Ministry SaOed by Narro50 Majority
Russian Situation Critical.

i4lIilse41 clever parliamentary tactican, for by
means Of his timely denunciation of talebearing,
and the promise that Major Pasquier. accused
OF drawing UP secret reports about President
ana Nine. Loubet, should be dismissed if
guilty saved the Ministry by the narrow ma
Joriry Of 10 votes. In justice to Major Pasouier
II should be stated that this officer makes a
sworn statement that he never wrote the tale
leulns slips in question, which he says are
4orgefles executed at the instigation of the
Nationalist. Affairs in Morocco are taking
such serious turn that NJ Delcasse intends
TO return from his brief holiday in the South
on Monday. The government will apply all
diplomatic methods in Morocco, but evidently
means TO assert the full treaty rights in the
su!tan's dominions, even at the cost Of military
occupation If necessary
The epidemic of taIebearing during the last
ten years is now proved to have spread with
cahcerous growth to every department of French
pupHc life Subordinate officers in the army
ana navy and petty employees all over the coun-
Try have been in the habit of furnishing conf
Dental slips concerning the private affairs and
domestic habits Of their superiors. The evil has
so honeycombed of1cialdom and bureaucracy that
national indignation is thoroughly aroused, the
GROWING clap Of all coming this week in the
shape Of secret reports about President Loubet
himself and his excellent wife. alleged to be
furnished by a major of artillery, in which the
President described as being too tolerant
and Mime. Loubet denounced as being very
clerical" General Florentin, in his capacity as
Chancellor Of the Legion Of Honor, has decided
to bring before a court martial all the officers
under his jurisdiction implicated in the shady
backstairs business Of taIebearing.
French newspaper correspondents at ST. Pc
tersburg describe the internal situation in Rus
STA as becoming each day more critical The
Ministerial "Matin," the mouthpiece Of the views
Of the Combes Cabinet, summing UP the Rus
sian outlook to-day. state: The Cars posi-
ton is now terribly complicated. AS Emperor he
can accord the reforms demanded by his people,
but as Pope Of the Orthodox Church he is pow
erless TO do so. This is very plausible in theory
It is the reassertton of autocratIc institutions
personihed by the Gar based upon divine right
and peace eternal, but the histories Of other
countries like France and England indicate
that only one solution to such a problem is pos
sible." Meanwhile the advanced Republican and
Socialist papers predict tragic results from the
Cars reported decision to refuse the reforms
demanded by the zenastvo leaders. Liberal
minded Frenchrnen regard NJ. Pobiedonostsef
who. according to the best informed Partisan
correspondents in Russia. now has the ear Of the
Car, as the evil genius OF Russia, and express
the opinion that unless the Gear abaudons au-
tocracy for national representation he win soon
have to deal with Muscovite edition Of the
same problem that confronted Louis XVI. The
Russian situation is watched here with the keen
est interest.
The arrival in Paris Of Rear Admiral Davis
and the fact Of the Dogger Bank Commission
meeting without waiting for the American dele
gate caused tempest in a teapot among dipIo-
matists Strong feeling was expressed in very
high quarters that the commission showed IN
due haste and want OF respect in beginning its
work without Admiral Davis, who had been pri-
vately requested by telegraph to leave his steam
er at Dover and hasten TO cross the Channel TO
Paris by way Of Calais, which would have
abled him 70 reach Paris at the time fixed for
the meeting. The prevailing opinion, however,
is, especially among French naval officers, that
the American admiral was quite right in declin-
ing to take his grip bag in hand and slip over
the side of the ship like a midshlpman or
newspaper reporter, and that such a course
would have been derogatory to the dignity Of the
American flag officer and delegate.
The excitement, however, is cooling down, for
It is now known this sudden outbreak of i'm
patience on the part Of Admiral Daviss col
leagues on the international commission was due
10 their intense desire TO meet as soon as pos
sibIe in order TO vote themselves a holiday until
January g. thereby enabling themselves to en-
JOY d full share Of the attractions Of the Paris
ian capital, which just this fortnight are at
the zenith. AS the French admiral frankly re-
marked sailors, whether bIuejackets or admi-
rails are, after all, Ike frisky schooIboys and
fond Of fun Admiral Davis with his usual tact,
srnoothed over the difficulty by accepting mat
ters in this light and took part in the confer
ence as cordially as If nothing had happened,
and in the afternoon donning his full Uniform.
paid his respects TO President Louoet, when the
President and the admiral chatted afably for
twenty minutes
Admiral Davis, with Mrs. Davis and their
daughter. is comfortably installed IN a smart
hotel IN the Rue Riyoli, overlooking the
Tuileries Gardens and within five minutes drive
Of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs. The ad-
miraI has been besiaged by newspaper reporters,
French and foreign, who have succeeded in
drawing from him only the statements that he
knows nothing whatever about the Dogger Bank
affair and that he finds more automobiles IN
the streets than when he last visited Paris in
1889 The "Republique Francaise" describes
Admiral Davis as speaking French correctly,
although somewhat slowly. but as understanding
n perfectly and as having the personal appear
ance with his calm bearing and piercing. intelli-
cent ewes. Of a learned doctor Of medicine pre-
pairing for his clinic
The theatrical event of the week has been the
ons thousandth performance OF Carmen" at
+ba ODAra Comique. when Nine. Calve sang
admirably and was applauded by smart and
seleot audience Of the world Of fashion. letters
music. art and BohemianIsm. The superb gala
a-4orr,ance the recitations by Mime. Barter
and the artistic programmes designed by M
C,bortran of the Theatre Francais, formed an
sno+heosis of Bizet and his Carmen" which