New-York tribune., 1905-03-19
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
Loosening Of the alliance BetrCeen
the Too Countries.
Paris, March Z.


French public, dismayed at the military and
naval collapse of their ally. nervous in regard
TO the twelve milards OF francs CS2, $50 900 00O)
invested in Muscovite securities, appalled, at the
social and economic situation Of the Russian
people, and irritated by what Is considered here
the vague, meaningless, pous platitudes of the
cars manifesto. is impatient at further pro-
iongation Of hostilities. Each week that the war
lasts unrivets screw from the Franco Russian
alliance
Paris!ans they go to their days work in
the metro" trains. tramcars or omnibuses shrug
their shoulders with discomfort as they read in
the newspapers the Cars appeal to his people
Tor still greater sacrifices and cooperation in
the grand and sacred task Of overcoming the
stubborn foreign foe" The entire liberal and
radical press. including the Temps" the
"Matin," the Steele" the Petit Parisien," the
"Gil Bias" the Journal" the "Humanite." the
"Rappel" and the Petite Rkpublique,' publish
strongly written editorials in favor of peace.
Henri Harduin the political editor of the Min
isterial "Matin," three mornings each week
writes telling arguments, replete with Partisan
sarcasm and irony, urging Russia to make the
best Of a desperate situation and to frankly
signify her readiness to come to terms with
Japan. M Harduin points out that Russian
military prestige, without retrieving which no
overtures Of peace can be made" is waning day
by day. 1T is for this vanishing prestige" NJ.
Harduin writes that thousands OF Russian and
Japanese lives are being lost" NJ. Harduin
tinues: DO not ask to what extent the lot of
the Russian people will be improved If the Rus
sian government RECEIVERS its prestige, the
harm that must ensue If the prestige be lost.
Such matters are deemed of importance at
Tsarskoe-Selo. 1t appears that man does not
live upon bread alone. The prestige of state
must have share in his daily food. This is
why at the beginning of fine weather some
10000 more Russians must be killed or
wounded in Manchuria To the Russian auto
cratic mind human flesh costs nothing. 1t is a
free commodity, of which there is unlimited
supply. and the sheep go of their own accord
to the slaughter house"
Among other prominent Frenchmen who have
expressed emphatic censure at the obstinacy of
the Russian government for refusing to open
its eyes to the real situation, and for its lack
Of moral courage to open negotiations for peace
are Anatoe France, Senator Georges Clemen-
ceau, Jean Jaures, Emile Combes, Frederic
Passy, Urbain Gohier, Marcel Provost, Paul
Meurice, Leon Bourgeois, Senator Richard Wad-
dington Senator Emmanuel Arene Jules Clare
tie Octave Mirbeau. Yves Guyot, Charles Lean
DIRE Robert Mitchell Adrien Hebrard. Merand,
Brieux, Fernand Labori, Clovis Hugues. Marcel
Sembat, Frederic Pressense and Gerault-
Richard.
The Russian external and internal situation is
having a marked effect on the sentiments of
French investors. Even the small holders of
Russian securities. who a year ago felt conf
dent that ultimate Russian success was meIass
a question OF time beginning to appfeciate
the truth There is no free market here for Rus
sian securities. the quotations being maintained
by the great financial institutions.
1t Is stated on credible authority that there has
been lavish expenditure in subsdzing the press
and in supporting the market. The mere rumor
of a new Russian loan has this week caused
fresh apprehension in financial circles. Every
where, except among the small but noisy group
of Nationalists. there is eager impatience with
the Russian government for the delay in propos-
ing peace.
The Partisan comic illustrated papers-straws
which Enthusiastically show how the Boulevard
wind blows-appear with revolving caricatures
Of Emperor Nicholas. who is represented as the |
Gear Rouge" with the blood of massacred
workmen streaming down his white tunic and |
with the letter press teeming with discriminating |
quotations from Victor Hugo's "Chatiments." |
The "Cri de Paris" of March 4 publishes pict- |
ures Of the Car with the infant Czarevitch in |
his arms, side. by side with the portrait Of |
Maxim Gorke who also has a child of the peo-
pie perched on his shoulders and the title ap-
pended to this is the query, ITO which of the
two does the future belong?'' The "Assiette au
Beurre." of the same date, comes out with a
naming frontispiece in red. white and black por-
-raying the Red Car" seated in the chariot of
he Dual Alliance embracing the Red Virgin"
with the Cap of Liberty In the
popular farce called the Chopin" which is hav-
ng successful run at the Palais Royal The
itre. the principal character Is a Russian gen
eraI who gives an order for the manufacture Of !
'hoes FOR his troops, with the option of furnish
ng soles of pasteboard instead Of leather The
concert halls nightly produce skits at the Gear
he grand dukes and the Russian government
hat public opinion would not have tolerated d
year ago.
Indications crop up at every hand which show
nat the average level headed Frenchman is be-
oming uneasy at the Russian alliance, which, as
vas pointed out recently by NJ. Delcasse. Min
ster Of Foreign Affairs. enabled France six
ears ago 10 emerge from her isolation and at
end, undisturbed, 20 her own business France
this and sympathizes with the Rus
ian nation, but not with Russian autocracy
or with Russian orthodoxy. Some weeks ago
arnest hope was expressed in Paris that Mich
las II would rise to the occasion. put himself
rankly in council with the wisest and best
minds Of his empire, and sincerely seek with
hem the means OF comforting upon his people
representation, freedom OF speech
nd OF the press, and autonomy for Finland and
'oand. French observers make due allowance
or the Ignorance of the Russian peasants and |
or the murderous outbreaks of NihiIist agita-
ors on the one hand and for the massacres at
he instigation OF Muscovite officialdom on the
ther hand. France would to-day have been
cart and soul in sympathy with Nicholas II
ad he possessed the intelligence and moral