Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-25

teresting and important figures ir
London during these war days, fol
more than any other single indi-
vidual he is the physical embodimen,
of the alliance by which England
France and Russia are jointly prose-
cutting the present tremendous strug-
gle, as it was he who signed, on April
g. 1904. the memorable convention es-
tabishing the entente cordiale com
pletely reconstructing the relations
between England and France and lead
ing straight to the present compact
by which the three entente allies are
fighting together today.
When NJ. Cambon was seen at the
French embassy by a representative
of The Associated Press he was pre-
pairing to leave for Paris to meet his
brother, M. Jules Cambon, who as
French Ambassador at Washington,
signed with president Mckinley the
protocol reestablishing peace between
the United States and Spain, after ar
ranging the memorable preliminaries
with Madrid by which Spain was to
retire from Cuba. Porto Rico was to
be coded to the United States and the
Philippines We're to pass under Amer
lean control by purchase.
The brothers are of that notable
Cambon family, all distinguished in
diplomacy, who at times have repre-
scented France simultaneously at Lon
don, Berlin and Constantinople-thre
of the vital spots of French interna-
tional contact. Just now the brothers
were meeting in Paris to see their
sons fighting at the front, who in the
leave for this family reunion. The
visit to Paris, too, gave the Ambassa
dor opportunity to consult with the
chief French officials on the many
questions of joint policy constantly
arising under the existing alliance.
The French embassy is one of the
massive piles of gray stone at Albert
Gate, leading from the busy traffic of
knightsbridge and Piccadilly, to the
calm and beauty of Hyde Park. Here
NJ. Paul Cambon has presided since
1898, and here was matured the en-
tente cordiale, which is having such
a momentous sequel today in the war
alliance. The Ambassador much re-
sembles his brother Jules-of middle
height, 1.-the and athletic frame, with
iron gray hair and beard, and KEEN
ness of manner which combined cori
Giality and unfailing tact-diplomatic
tact, which has been the keynote to
the notable Cambon careers. The Am
bassador never speaks for publication,
yet certain impressions were gathered
during the visit which indicate the
role of the principal figures in the ne
gotiation of the entente cordiale and
the great events leading up to the
present war drama. VI
1t was Lord Salisbury who first per-
ceived the need Of reconciling the diff
ferences long existing between Eng
land and France. Two main reasons
had been operating slowly but surely
to make this need apparent. First,
both England and France had en-
barked on extensive colonial policies.
and these colonies were so situated
that they were a continual source Of
discord and misunderstanding the
world over-in Siam where the British
interests were on one side and the
French interests of Indo- China on the
other: in Africa. with Egypt in the
northeast Morocco, Algiers and Tunls
in the northwest, and the Congo. and
Niger and Nile country in the center;
the Newfoundland fisheries, asssource
of controversy for 200 years, with
Madagascar, New Hebrides and many
other points affording points for mis-
understanding in colonial Development
Some of these had become aclite, not
ably the Siam crisis and the Fachoda
incident, when the French expedition
under Capt Marchand reached the
Nile simultaneous with The arrival, OF
Gen. Kitchener. two. weeks after his
capture of khartourn. These and like
incidents had aroused such feeling on
both sides of the Channel, and had
caused such grave MISUNDERSTANDING
that they gave the first real impetus
to the view, both in England and
France, that some broad policy of rec
onciliation was essential between
France and England.
The second reason for such recon :
Citation had impressed itself rather
slowly on British statesmen-the need
Of counterpoise to the ambition OF
Germany. which, it was now apparent
by it's alliance in Central Europe was
seeking to build up predominatlne
influence on the course of European
affairs When Germany after the wal
Of 1901 was ready to crush France
England was not aroused that such 8
course might affect not only France
but the equilibrium of Europe, in ad-
vancing the imperial design of par
amount influence Of the Central pow
ers over the affairs of Europe. But
English craftsmanship, and it was the
second and decisive factor leading te
the reconciliation of France and Eng
land and all it's train of momentous
consequences down to the present
hour.
Singularly. however, Lord Sails.
bury's early conviction that the time
had come for this reconciliation, wa!
not realized because of a peculiar OBJ
stacle. He had seen many French
ministries come and go. for some o
them were of brief duration, and thes'
frequent falls of ministries impressed
Lord Salisbury with an idea that Their
was lack Of stability and continuit.
in French policy. For that reason tn
first hopes of a reconciliation were no
realized, halted because of the feelin,
that it might not be enduring.
1t was in these circumstances tina
the reconciliation moved slowly, unit
the decisive action Of Bismarck clearl
showed tho doSicn IF domino tin.