Evening star., 1908-06-13
NO FORMAL ALLIANCE.
Comment on FaIHere'S Recent
Visit to London.
TALK OF PARTISAN PAPERS
South African Colonies Planning
New Departure.
THE DUKE OF CoNNAuaHT's JOB
0pen-Air School to Be Pursued This
Year on a Larger Scale-Epi-
demic Of Exhibitions.
THE DUKE OF C0NNAUGHT's JO1
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, June 1, 1908.
have reason to believe that, although
the visit to London Of the president of the
French republic is regarded in diplomatic
circles as certain to strengthen and
broaden the bonds OF Anglo French
friendship established by the entente cor
dale Of the past five years. there Is not
entertained. either in Whitehall or on
the Quai d'Orsay. any idea of turning
the friendly understanding into a formal
alliance. This is only the irresponsible
suggestion of a few Partisan journals.
and 1t meets with no countenance in Of
fcial quarters on either side Of the chan
mel But it may be taken as certain
that the presidential visit to London
(which is to be followed at no distant
date by one to st. Petersburg. coupled
with that which the king is about to
pay to the czar. will serve to deepen
the amicable- feeling that led to the con-
clusion of both the Anglo French and the
AnGlo-Russian agreements. and may
cause these instruments in certain direc-
tions to be supplemented. in order to per-
nit of more perfect settlement of in
terests. But all talk of a new triple al
lance. composed OF Great Britain, France
and Russia. may at once be dismissed.
There are. Of course. certain outstand-
ing questions of international diplomacy
upon which 1t may be possible for France
and this country to work together imme
diately with excellent chance of success.
and that without any arriere pensee
concerning other powers. there being no
desire on the part Of the British govern
ment to promote any policy of isolation
Enrnno g
fostering of a good understanding all
round. Regarding these questions I was
told In conversation yesterday with one
Of those In the suite of President Fall
which NJ Pichon. the French foreign
minister. touched when he met Sir Ed
ward Grey before leaving London were
those OF Macedonia and the Kongo
"The views OF our government" said
my informant. ARE already fairly well
say that ii the British foreign secretary
press for energetic action In respect OF
either question he will find that the
French minister will be ready to re-
spond." These two points are the black
est spots in International affairs Just now.
very awkward problem, and combined
and friendly action may do much In re-
spect to them all.
Many French Visitors.
The Frenchman is everywhere. Never
time 50 many Of our neighbors from
across the channel. Not only are they
to be seen in the city and West End, do
ing the ordinary signs. but in the
suburban parks enjoying the beauty OF q
tempts to cater for them meet the eye
every where. Many shops are marking
their goods In francs as well as English
money. and "Ici on parle francais" seems
to be appe airing on the windows Of every
other shop
Some of the tourist agencies are print
ing their excursion notices In French.
They are issuing handbills in that
language to everybody who looks like
foreigner, and the vail bills announcing
gate. Hastings. Portsmouth, Hythe and
SO forth, are printed in both French and
English. Even the street vendors are
accommodating themselves to the situa-
tion. / saw some of the French sailors
buying a program. and they were i'm
mensely tickled when the boy from whom
they purchased it held up two fingers to
show that he wanted twopence. He al
ready knew what 'combien'' meant. II
the present invasion continues. London
will have a great French season.
The Franco-British exhibition. be It's
lasting effect what it may. has for the
time considerably changed the character
of what was formerly the very English
suburb Of Shepherds Bush. 1t is now very
much like Soho. Shop windows are stud
ded with polyglot notices in French, Ger
man and Italian. Nor Is the linguist, as
in so many shops elsewhere, usually out
at tea. The unemployed walters and for
eign statesmen of London have been flock
ing to Shepherds Bush for months past.
Lodgings are mostly advertised by the
notice 'chambres meublees." The tube
station is sprinkled with directions, such
as AUX ascenseurs," /" AUX trains" De
pot des bagages."
London, indeed. is dropping Its old atti-
tude of Indifference to the foreigner
Cooks are distributing in Paris tens Of
thousands Of maps showing how the ex-
hibition is most easily reached. Two the
aters are advertising their plays In posters
all In French. Holborn borough council
has for some time shown maps on the
wall at important corners with directions
and explanations in three languages. And
not least in wonders, l heard a cockney
bus conductor talking fluent German with
two of his passengers from the father
land. This is most unusual for London.
South African Colonies Plans.
understand that the South African col
onies are meditating change in their re-
lations with the imperial government
which will be received with mixed feel
ings at home. This is nothing less than a