The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31
N, PAUL CAMB0N
THE EFRENCH ENVOY
TOBR|T|SH COURT
He Is One of The Most interest
ing and important Figures in
London at This Time
OBy the Associated Press).

London during these war days. Tor
more than any other single individual
he is the physical embodiment of the
alliance by which England, France
and Russia are Jointly prosecuting the
present tremendous struggle, as it was
he who signed, on April s, 1904 the
memorable convention establishing
the entente cordiale completely recon-
structing the relations between Eng
land and France and leading straight
to the present compact by which the
three entente allies are fighting to-
gether today.
When III. 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 Cambor, who as
French Ambassador at Washington,
signed with President Mckinley the
protocol re-establishing 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 ceded to the United States and the
Philippines were to pass under Amerl-
can control by purchase.
The brothers are of that notable
Cambon family, all distinguished in
diplomacy, who at times have repre-
sented France simultaneously at Lon
don. Berlin and Constantinople-
three of the vital spots of French in
ternational contact. Just now the
brothers were meeting in Paris to see
their sons, fighting at the front, who i'll
the lull of operations had been granted
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
II. Paul Cambon has presided since
1898, and here was matured the en-
tente cordiale, which is having such q
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 cor
diality and unfailing tact-diplomatic
tact, which has been the keynote to
the notable Cambon careers. The
Ambassador never speaks for publi-
cation, yet certain impressions were
gathered during the visit which indi-
cate the role Of the principal figures
In the negotiation Of the entente cor
dale and the great events leading up
to the present war drama.
1t was Lord Salisbury who first per
ceived the need Of reconciling the diff
ference long existing between England
and France. Two main reasons had
been operating slowly but surely to
make this need apparent. First, both
England and France had embarked
on extensive colonial policies, and
these colonies were SO situated that
they were a continual source of dis
cord and misunderstanding the worlG
over-in Siam where the British in
terests were on one side and the
French interests Of Indo-China on the
other; in Africa, with Egypt in the
northeast, Morocco, Algiers and Tuni!
in the northwest, and the Congo and
Niger and Nile country in the center
the Newfoundland fisheries "a sourct
of controversy for two hundred years
with madagascar, New Hebrides ant
many other points affording points fOl
misunderstanding in colonial develop
ment. Some of these had becom,
acute, notably the Siam crisis, an(
the Fachoda incident when tn
French expedition Under Capt March
and reached the Nile simultaneou
with the arrival of Gen. Kitchener
two weeks after his capture of Khar
toum. Those and like incidents ha,
aroused such feeling on both sides O
the channel, and had caused Sucl
grave misunderstanding that the,
gave the first real impetus to tn
view, both in England and France
that some broad policy of reconcilia
ton was essential between France an,
England.
The second reason for such a recon
cliation had impressed itself rathe
slowly on British statesmen-the nee
of counterpoise to the ambition Q
Germany, which, it was now apparent
by its alliance in Central Europe wa
seeking to build up a predominatin
influence on the course of Europea
affairs. When Germany after the wa
OF 1901 was ready to crush France
England was not aroused that such
course might affect not only France
put the equilibrium of Europe. in ad
Vancing the imperial design Of a para
mount influence of the Central power