A REBUFF AND A REASON.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 132, 14 June 1901, Page 1

A REBUFF AND A REASON.

The French Government are not sending any warship to New Zealand waters during the Royal visit, the reason assigned being that they have not one to spare. So far as this colony is concerned, perhaps we could hardly have expected such an honor to be paid to us in any case, but what is undoubtedly surprising is the fact that France—tho second naval power in the world—should have officially intimated herinability to spare a warship for Hobson’s Bay at the time of the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. Russia sent the Gromoboi, a magnificent vessel, which outclassed anything that Great Britain had to show on that occasion. It was perhaps from one point of view a little unfortunate that the finest man-o’-war in Australian waters on that eventful day should belong not to tho Motherland, the Mistress of tho Seas, but to a foreign power. The Australians, however, gladly forgave this slight blow to their national vanity in gratitude for the generous feeling which prompted the Czar to do so much honor to the birthday of the new Commonwealth. The United States behaved in an equally handsome fashion, sending the Brooklyn, a magnificent specimen of a modern armored cruiser, and of especial interest from the fact that she underwent her baptism of fire in the Spanish-American war. Not only did the United States Government manage to spare her for Melbourne, but they have spared her for New Zealand also, and she is now in AVellington Harbor, the admiration of all beholders. The German Government sent two war vessels to the Melbourne celebrations, and even littlo Holland, vyith whom our relations have at times beep rather strained during the Boer war, also managed to send a ship from her comparatively small navy. Yet France found herself unable to spare even a gunboat.—Press.'