Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-22

cnference with the minister Of foreign
affairs The President of the council
voicing the wishes of President 4oubet
and the ministers, earnestly besought
n. Uelcasse to waver in his determine
ton.
When the President Of the council
came from the interview, he stated 10
his colleagues that ne bore a favorable
immersion Of it's results. M. Delcasse,
he said, had given no final answer but
had promised to reserve his determine
ton until tomorrow, when a final ans
wer will be given. 1t is believed that
NJ. Delcasse will yield to the insistence
of President Loubet and the President
of the council.
The motives leading up to NJ. Del
casses sudden determination to retire
from the cabinet are primarily attribut-
ed to internal controversies over the
Moroccan question; and this to some
extent has been accentuated by similar
controversies over French neutrality
in the Far East. The opposition have
been quick to seize upon both questions,
and headed by Socialists ard National
lists have directed their criticisms
against NJ. Delcasse.
The Socialist criticisms have been
particularly vehement during recent
days on the Moroccan question and this
appears to have finally decided M. Del
caSSe to surrender the question into
other hands. 1t is felt that his retire
ment now would be nailed in Germany
as German triumph, and this is one Ct
| the main considerations leading M.
Rouvler to earnestly appeal to NJ. Del
case to remain in the foreign office.
| The announcement concerning NJ Del
casse's intention to resign was one OF
many incidents in day of much anxiety
throughout government quarters. Fol-
| lowing close on the heels of the cOmPli-
| cations with Germany over Morocco, the
| FrancO-JapaneSe incident suddenly as
| Sumed serious proportions, and unusual
| energy was shown in preventing its en-
brOIling France in complications in the
| Far East In order to secure definite CO.
| operation between three departments Of
the government, namely, naval, caloniai
| and foreign. a conference was held. this
Afternoon, between leading representa-
tives of each department This brought
about a clear understanding regarding
| the measures necessary for the mainten-
| ance of the neutrality of Indo-Chinese
| waters and orders We're sent to Governor
| General Beau to specifically report the
| exact location of the Russian Pacific
| squadron and whether it had or had not
| withdrawn IRON French waters. Com
| rnunications with ST. Petersburg led to
orders being transmitted by the Russian
/ government to Vice Admiral ROjestven-
| sky to vigorously respect the neutrality
| of French waters.
| Probably the most significant develop
ment from the energetic measures adopt
/ ed was the receipt of a dispatch from
| Saigon saying that imperative orders had
been given for the disarmament of the
Russian cruiser Diana, which sought rel
uge in the harbOr of Saigon eight months
ago for purposes of repairing.
The anticipated debate in the Chamber
ity was postponed owing to the Delcasse
announcement The only reference to the
subject was the inquiry by Deputy De-
loncle and the brief reply from Premier
| ROuvier, who said:
s.Formal, precise and repeated orders
have been given our agents in lndo-Chnl
to assure the absolute neutrality of
France in the do-Chinese waters
| 1t was stated at the foreign oihce, late
this afternoon. that no representations OF
| any kind had been presented by Great
| Britain concerning neutrality. At the
| same time it is anticipated that some
| such representations will be made The
| cordial relations existing between France
and Great britain would doubtless modify
| any representations SO as to relieve them
| from serious Significance. Anything like
| an energetic protest from Great Britain
| at this time would be deeply wOundinS to
/ France, who relies on the Anglo-French
entente as a counterpOiSe to Germany S
| menaceS over Morocco.