France and England.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 134, 10 June 1904, Page 4

France and England.

THE THREE AGREEMENTS. The three agreements between (ireat Hritain and France, about which so much lias been reported, were signed in London on April S, and prove to 1,-e documents of the highest importance. They were at once submitted to Parliament, together with a despatch addressed by Lord Lansdowne to Sir E. Monson. which we recommend to our readers, as containing at once the best account of the terms accepted, and the most complete statement of their general object. The most important of the terms agreed on regard Egypt and Morocco. In Egypt the French Government recognises the predominant position of Great Britain, promises not to impede her work by any suggestion that the occupation is temporary, and agrees to a great modification in the functions of the Caisse de la Dette. Under the new arrangement the debt is made a first charge on the land revenue instead of the Customs and railways ; but the surplus is no longer to be hoarded by the Caisse against contingencies, but is to be expended for the benefit of the country. The Egyptian Treasury in fact, so long as the interest due to the foreign creditor is paid, as free as that of any other country, and can even raise loans without foreign assent. Tho result will be a great improvement in the linances of Egypt, the surplus going to remunerative public works, and a consequent solidification of the llritish position in the country. The assent of other Powers to the change is, of course, necessary ; but their concern in the revenues of Egypt id so small as compared with that of the two contracting Powers that no opposition is expected from their side.

COMPENSATION ANT) CONCESSION. In compensation for these concessions on the part of France, the British Government recognises her predominant position in Morocco, and agrees that, if that anarchic country is to be "regenerated" by European influence, the agency must bo that of France. On the other hand, France is not to annex, or to fortify the coast opposite Europe, while she is to make arrangements with Spain, us being exceptionally interested in the fate of Morocco, which shall be agreeable to that Power in form as well as substance. Moreover, British commerce is to retain all the immunities it now enjoys by treaty, and is always to be considered as entitled to equality with that of France, even as regards the passage of British goods through French territory.

THE NEWFOUNDLAND SHORE. As regards Newfoundland, France agrees, in consideration of free access to tile navigable portion of (he Gambia, the surrender of three small islets opposite Konakry, in French Guinea, and tho cession of eight thousand sjqjuaro miles of land in Nigeria necessary to give the French colonies in West Africa free access to Lake Chad to abandon her claim to the treaty shore, which thus reverts in full sovereignty to New>foundland. This agreement removes a cause of dispute which was most dangerous, because both countries protected their rights, or assumed rights, by the use of armed vessels, which might at any time have come into collision. Again, as regards Siam, both parlies disclaim the idea of annexing that kingdom or any part of it, but divide it into two "spheres of influence," France being predominant to the east of the Menam, and Great llritain to the west of that river. Finally, Great llritain agrees not to press certain claims with regard to the Customs duties levied in Madagascar ; und France agrees to the appointment of a Joint Commission to settle the rights of nationals in the New Hebrides. The Siamese agreement will not be relished in India, and there will be discontent in Australia as to the clause a'bout the New Hebrides ; but, taking the agreements as a whole, they afford a fair basis for a long peace between Gieat llritain and France, ami a cordiality between their Foreign Ministers to which they have long been strangers. The journals, both at Home and abroad, attribute much of the successor the negotiations to the King, possibly with justice ; but we think it would be wiser to adhere to the old rule that as the King is not to lie blamed for political mistakes so he should not he praised for political successes. His Majesty is protected as well as concealed by the screen of the Constitution. THE SPANISH DIFFICULTY. In regard to the Spanish side of the agreement, which no doubt means that France is to agree with Spain that the Moroccan coast between Melilla and the river Sebu is to be within tho Spanish "sphere of influence," we note that the solution of flie conflicting interests of France, Spain and llritain thus arrived at is almost exactly that which we specifically advocated in the year I'JOU as the best solution of the Moroccan question. It may interest our leaders to quote our actual words. Writing on May 20th, IIJOO,l I JOO, we said : "If in the ultimate settlement England is to take nothing, Spain something, ami France the rest, what will b» the best division ? Our suggestion is—a>id in eases of this kind|ono cannot be intelligible without being specific—that France, Spain and Great Britain should enter into a treaty setting forth that if the Moorish Empire should break up the contracting I'owers would consider that the territory enclosed by a line drawn from, say, Sebu on the Atlantic coast to Melilla on the Mediterranean, was within the Spanish •sphero of influence,' and the rest of the territories of the Sultan of Morocco within the sphere of France, provided always that Spain bound herself not to build any fortifications between Centa and Cape Spartcl. . Both Spain and.' France should »t the same time 3gree that they

I would for the next twenty years impose no higher duties than those now imposed in the ports of Morocco.': GENERAL AI'FROVAL.. The agreements have been received with a sigh ol relief by the French people, and with decided approval, and, indeed, some admiration, by our own. They are welcomed without reserve in Russia, apparently under the impression that they will diminish the chance of British opposition to the treaties which at the conclusion of the war will, as Rust sians believe, seat, them on the Pacific. There is no annoyance felt in Austria, or Italy, and it is not certain that there is any in Germany, though one or two journals complain that Germany is not. considered in the arrangements. Where, asks one paper indignantly, is her "place in the sun ?" The idea seems to he, both in Germany and Austria, that in sweeping away grounds of discord between Great llritain and France, Lord Lnnsdowne has increased, however slightly, the weight of the Dual Alliance as against that of 1 the "Triplice." Probably this is true ; but it is not so important, as it might have been if the Russo--1 Japanese war had not, so to speak, thrown all alliances into the meltingpot.—Home paper.