The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-09
FRANCES DENIAL.
Says She Has Not Violated Neutrality,
 aa AaAerfed.


 as Asserted.
 Paris, May S.-The critical tone of the British press concerning Frances al- legged breaches of neutrality in Indo- China brought out an emphatic general st9tsr1ent tasiaY from the foreign of- flee that the accusations are unfounded. An official said
 Tt is universally known that the Japanese intelligence department is ex- ceptionally efficient. Therefore, if va rious specific breaches of neutrality really existed the Japanese Govern ment would have been aware of them and would have presented specific charges to the French Government So far. however. Japanese official action has been confined to requesting France to exercise strict neutrality.
 She has not made any specific charges nor have any specific acts of violation of neutrality been brought to our attention. The Japanese gov ernment asked in an amicable spirit that we observe neutrality and we answered that we had done and are doing everything possible to that end. The reports to the contrary we believe to be misrepresentations."
 Dr. Motono, the Japanese minister to France, went to the foreign office yes terday evening where he had an ex- tended interview with Foreign Minister Delcasse. The nature of this conver-
 
 derstood that Dr. Motono referred to Japanese increasing impatience regard ing the alleged breaches of neutrality"
 The feeling prevails here that the situation is gradually assuming much tension. Reports are current that the positive instructions of the French of fcials here receive perfunctory execu- tion on the part of their subOrdinates in Indo-China owing to individual sympathy existing between the civil and naval French and Russian author ities.
 semi official note issued this after noon says:
 in a dispatch from Hong Kong to a foreign agency. not only has the French government not dsregarded the rules of neutrality. but after sending its civil and military agents very precise instructions for the enforce ment of those rules 1e government has unremittingly seen to their exten- sion."
 The semi official Temps today in leading article refers to. the disagree ablc attitude of the Japanese press to- wards France. which now finds d par tial echo in the British press and says that the basis of both criticisms that France ought to apply the rules of neutrality and that the entire subject is discussed from the British concep- tion of what constitutes neutrality. The paper adds:
 Tt (the British Press), virtually pro- poses that France abandon the neutrality regulations she has always followed and adopt those of Great Britain. which she has never ceased to repudiate. Neutrality regulations are not universal. but vary according to the essential conditions of the peo- pie observing them. Insular powers having many naval bases adopt rigor- ous neutrality rules whereas conti- mental powers having few principals of naval support would be at a manifest inferiority If they accepted rigorous neutrality rules. The French Gov ernment has informed parliament that 1t Is fully respecting the neutrality of our coasts and waters in Indo-Chlna and should be fully understood that this means the French neutrality regu- lations to which we remain always faithful Through a misapprehension public opinion Is being created that we neutrality not our French regulations on the subject. but the established British system The foregoing gives the view enter tained also in official quarters here that criticisms are chiefly due to the heIief that the rigorous British neu- trolitv regulations have universal ap- rlicstion whereas the French regula- tions on the subject are far more lib- eraI and France insists that she has the right to follow her own reguia- 1 tions.