FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 85, 14 April 1904, Page 3

FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

VARIOUS OPINIONS ON THE AGREEMENT. n LONDON. April 12. Count Lamsdorlt (Russian Foreign Minister) warmly congratuDelcasse (French Foreign Minister) on the conclusion of liie Anglo-French agreement. German newspapers are growingty disappointed. In regard to Mor■*Co, some of them advance Gerrnan pretensions to Western .Morocco. The newspaper Reichbote, the organ oi the Protestant party, says Germany is not consulted and not taken seriously into the councils of the nations. '!• Where," the journgl asks, "is Germany's place ? Under the sun all she possesses is the Pole's friendship." The Times says Egypt was Bismark's lever for separating Great Britain and Prance, and llismark never forgave Britain for joining Russia to prevent Germ'nmyj in 1875, attacking France. It adds : —" Mr ChamJjprlain's West African agreement may fairly ho considered the germ of the present comprehensive agreement, affecting the future politics of the world." THE NEW HEBRIDES. MELBOURNE, April 13. Mr Dcakin, Federal Premier, lias cabled for further information about the An|iilo-French agreement, especially as regards the New Hebrides. EXPLANATION" BY LORD LAts'SDOWNE. (Received April 13, 11.32 p.m.) LONDON, April I,'S. The text of the Anglo-French agreement is now published. The Martfuess of Lansdowne, in an explanatory note, states that a despatch from Sir Edmund J. Munson, British Ambassador to France, declared that a settlement was notoriously desired by Britain and France. King Edward's visit to France, gave a powerful impulse to the movement, and President Loubet's visit to London acted similarly. Lord Lansdowne then pays a high tribute to MM. Ilelcasse and Cambon, French Foreign Minister and Ambassador in London respectively, and alsy) to Earl Cromer's eminent services. The Minister adds that is now given a free haivd in the disposal of her resources for the welfare of Egyptians, and paralysing hindrances elsewhere are removed.

Altogether, he concludes the set tlement is not merely a series of separate agreements, but part of a comprehensive scheme for the improvement of the two countries' re- , affording a precedent calculated to contribute something to the mjjmenance 0 f international goodwill and general peace. The newspapers unanimously reecho Lord Lansdowne's sentiments and congratulations to the diplomatists who succeeded in turning fav = g circumstances' to good