THE ANGLO-FRENCH DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1126, 26 July 1883, Page 3

THE ANGLO-FRENCH DIFFICULTY.

Great excitement was created in the House of Commons when the Premier announced that Pierre, the French com-

mander in Madagascar, had ai rested the

secretary to Mr Pakenham (the British Consul at Tamatave), the last named gentleman being ill at the time of the arrest. Before the arbitrary order to

leave within 24 hours couli be carried

out, Pakenham died from his illness, and ' the French authorities arrested Ihe captain and officers of the British man-of-war Dryad, lying off Tamatave, whom

they invited to attend the funeral. The feeling has been made still more bitter by the French authorities at Gaboon, a region in Central Africa, on the East Coast of the Gulf of Guinea, arresting several Englishmen in that locality on a charge ot carrying firearms, bringing them before a court, and fining them for the

offence. In the House of Lords Earl Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that he had communicated with M. Lacour, with reference to the attempted expulsion of the British Consul at Tamatave, and the subsequent seizure of British naval officers. M.

Lacour replied that the French Government was in entire ignorance of what had taken place, M. Ferry, the Premier of France, believes that the report of the outrage has been greatly exaggerated, He displays a friendly feeling towards the English Government in connection with the matter, and admits that if the accounts are substantially correct England is entitled to some, reparation. The French Press treat the affair lightly, and adopt an nnconciliatory tone towards England. The German and Italian newspapers have taken the matter up warmly on behalf of England, and they are unanimous in the opinion that it will be necessary for France to make ample reparation to the British Government. M. Lacour, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, has forwarded another communication to the English Govern - o»ent, He repeats his previous assurance as to France being in ignorance of the alleged outrage committed by Admiral Pierre in Madagascar, and expresses a hope that the friendly relations between the two countries will not be interrupted. The recent outrages in Madagascar have aroused great indignation in England, and in spite of the representations of M. Lacour, a warlike feeling prevails throughout England.