Evening star., 1914-09-27
.N6X

tration exists, due to differing circum-
stances. In Madagascar, France rules
with an iron hand. and with little regard
for native susceptibilities. In Algeria.
with its large white population. the ad-
ministration is bureaucratic, but not op-
pressive. The high-class Arabs have a
notable participation in the affnirs of the
colony, and are said to be more than sat-
isfied with French rule.
Visitors to the various International
exposttions have been given excellent
opportunities to observe the workings
of the French colonial system, At the
Chicago exposition Dahomey was IA a
great attraction, largely because Of it's
novelty, but at subsequent expositions
Algeria usually was the model colonial
exhibit.
to be considered as being in the class
with her equatorial and far east pos
sessions. The islands of Pierre and
Miquelon, off Newfoundland, are In
the time when the Newfoundland banks
were of great Importance to the French
nsheries and were also an element in
the French marine.
4. X
Guadalupe and Martinique, in the
west India group, occupy a different
status. From the time of the French
revolution they have been self-govern-
parliament. Though their commerce is
not great. their strategic position is of
some importance to France. It would
be OF much greater Importance to the
United States should Germany win a
world triumph and insist on possession
OF Guadaloupe and Martinique in
order to give her the coveted base in
the West Indies.
ak1t -
present day who have developed the
colonial policy are thinking Of trade
empire, as well as a political appanase,
l.,,s1s Is shown y: by the tarir policy. All the
ucts OF the French colonial possessions,
but all the world is not free to sell
goods goods to the colonies on the same
Terms fndnsch;s. as France. france For example. in
foreign trade is with the neighborine
countries. SO per cent is with France
and the rest of the world shares the
remaining 10 per cent.
me preferential tariff policy, with
various notifications. is applied to the
different colonial possession. II diff
fers from the preferential tariff of
Canada and other lf-governing Brit
lsh colonies In that. while France gets
preference. she also gives the colo
nial products a preference, while Great
Britaln does not. Moreover, the
frsnch colonies are not. like the ma
JotieS VI DTieISh colonies, Self-8Overn-
ing, and do no. fix their own tariffs.
France has a merchant marine that
is commensurate with her foreign
commerce. French shipping has been
encouraged by the government through
various forms Of preference. There is
distinct national policy in regard
to French bottoms. The shipyards OF
France have produced a type of vessel
that are unexcelled. The lines which
pass through the Suez canal from Mar
seille to Madagascar and Indo-China
are Of the most modern construction.
A line of smaller vessels connects the
French ports with the equatorial pos-
sessions on the west coat Of Africa.
This year French steamship COM
panies put on q number Of new fast
vessels for the South American service
They compete with the fast Italian and
British lines, both for passenger and
for freight trafic.
The French line through the West
Indies, via Martinique to Colon. 10 one
of the oldest on the Caribbean route.
The question has not yet been settled