THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APrIL 8, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3831, 8 April 1881, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APrIL 8, 1881.

A late from England informed Us tbat a little feeling was being displayed iv France ,over some question tbat bad arisen in the Tunisian frontier relative to an estate of an English subject. The message further states tbat conflicts hare occurred, preeumably between tbe French in' Algiers, and the residents in Tunis. For some time the French have assumed a sort of authority in Tunis, somewhat more .than the constitution allots, but: the exigench s of the case and the nearness of Fretich possessions hare given a sort of claim to, the assumption of more than a 'nominal share in the admininistration of the affairs of the Bey of Tunis. A message published to-day, however, states that the conflicts had arisen in consequence of the action on the part (/ France towards the acquisition of Tunis. An Ebglisb journal writing upon „the question says : —" The independence of the Bey of Tunis, was formally recognised by tbe firman of October 1871; and the predominance of France has been, less directly, recognised in the constitution of tbe "International Finance Collision in 1869. The administrative section of that body consists of a French iuspec tor of finance, with two native officials; while in the control section the six delegates are elected in equal proportions by England. Italy, and France. The preteneigus of France to special rights has again and auain been repeated in diplomatic despatches. Thus M. Drouyn de Lbuys, in a letter to London, says: * While seeking for ourselves no exclusive influence, we cannot admit:the preponderance of any other Power whatever, without excluding Turkey; 'and in a letter to Constantinople he reports tbat the English^ Foreign Secretary • has appreciated with impartiality the special interests which the vicinity of Algeria creates for us in Tunis, and the line of conduct which we have consequently adopted the Ottoman Government.' From this and other declarations: and acts, both of the French and other Governments, it results that, side by side with the formal and legal equality which every nation enjoys in its dealings with' Tunis, the French- have been allowed by general consent to exercise, and have from time to time exercised, certain special rig lit« of coutrol, which are justified by the commercial relations existing between the two countries, and, Becond^ly, by the'exigencies of the French position' in Algeria. .

A French monopoly of the Tunisian as well as the Algerian coaat would be so direct a menaoe to th« international neutrality of 'Egypt that it is simply incredible, even if France had not enough to do in developing the latent resources of her Algerian possessions, that any measure so startling could be entertained in ! the boldest flights of M. Gambetfca's imagination. The Italians do not look at the matter with this sense of security, however, and it is sufficient to glance a(; a map of the Mediterranean in order to realise the acuteness of anxiety into which some Italian political prophets have contrived to excite themselves at the idea of French armies and fleets in possession ©f such a quarter of North Africa. A French garrison at Tunis, lying so close to Sicily and Naples, would expose'tha whole south of Italy to the most unendurable peril. Tunis in tbe hands of a first-class Po<ver would be to Italy what Belgium in the hands of a first-class Power would be to England. The memories of the ancient ambition of the French nation are still, however, greeu. iv tilie Italian Peninsula, and this circumstance should be borne in mind in estimating, tbe intensity of Italian sensitiveness upon the ' Tuuisian Quest on/ " There can belittle doubt but that France has designs upon the possessions of the Bey of Tunis, and has been attempting to make another step, towards securing her object. It would also appear that the European States are well aware of the ; object of France, and are as determined to prevent her increasing her possessions iv Africa. From the latest cablegram the French Government found it desirable to give friendly assurances as to its iutcnlious iv regard to Tunis. This

is only putting off the matter till a more favorable opportunity offers, and is probably so understood by the Great Powers. It is fortunate, however that wise counsels bare prevented an outbreak of the relations between Italy and Frarce on the one side, and Great Britain, the grnat protector of the rights of the weaker states, on'the other. A war just now would be most unfortnnate while the questions between Greece and Turkey remain unsettled, and. the remaining articles" and "conditions of the Berlin Treaty yet unfulfilled by the Sultan and his people. There may be other hands pulling the strings if the following theory advanced by a correspondent writing to another journal may be credited■:—" Iv the event of a European conflagration it would be essential that France should be compelled to remain neutral, and fur this'purpose Prince Bismark is most anxious to foment sentiments of animosity between France and Italy. If France could possibly be led to attack Tunis the greatest service will have been unconsciously rendered to Germany. When the hour of action shall , have arrived Prince Bismark doubtless i hopes to paralyse Eussia by throwiug Hungary and Austria against her. and by reviving the Polish and Eastern difficulties. But for Austria to act she must be free from the fears Bhe enter ains of the Italia irredenta party. There must be no alliance between the French and Italian democ-. racies to threaten Austria io the rear. Now the annexation of Tunis by the French would at once unile all the Italian patriots. Garibaldi, Cairoli, and Depretis would be at once against the French. The two powers that should be allies would be enemies, and by reason of this enmity would neutralise each other's actions. Thus is the petty principality of Tuni,s made to play a most important part in the mighty development-cf European history.., If these theories are true, the Tunisians may flatter themselves that they are leading factors in the great struggle between nations; but their position as such is scarcely enviable."