A REMARKABLE SPEECH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 252, 23 November 1903, Page 3

A REMARKABLE SPEECH

ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. PARIS, Nov. 21. In the Chamber of Deputies, during the debate on this Foreign AffairsDepartment Estimates, M. Deschavel made a remarkable and much applauded speech. Ho emphasised Britain's improved relations with France and Russia, and declared that Britain's present advice to Japan to pursue a prudent and moderate policy was the chief reason for England and France joining hands. The change in England's commercial position would need new markets and new tariffs, everywhere affecting her supremacy. The development of Germany's navy was directed against her, and showed the 'dangers of her isolation. The recent Arbitration Treaty with England might be greatly extended, but in the matter of permanent treaty for arbitration with Britain it would ]>e necessary to consider the relationship of the colonies. Would they accept what the Motherland accepted- ? Some of them, like Australia and Canada, were real States, and a permanent treaty would not bind them. This would greatly reduce the. efficiency of pressure. On behalf of the Estimates Committee he urged M. Delcasse to indicate to Britain the idues-■t-io'ns outside the scope of arbitration awd submit the others to the Hague Tribunal. He also urged the consideration of th-t question of disarmament,