THE NEW CANAL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4609, 12 October 1883, Page 2

THE NEW CANAL.

English, French, German, and other European exchanges to hand; are so full of heated discussions in regard to the recent negotiations between M. de Lesseps and the Britirh Government, in reference to the building of a second Suez Canal, that it is rery certain that the telegrams which had previously reached this countiy altogether failed to convey an adequate idea of the intense feeling that is entertained in Europe upon this question. The whole commercial interests of England have risen in opposition to the terms which the Gladstone Government was willing to make with de Lesseps, and thej " preliminary agree* merit" has had to be abandoned, causing mucli loss of prestige to the present English Cabinet. It is obvious that British shipowners and exporters mean to have a canal under their owo, control. They say that they provide 82 per cent, of thS tolls, and decide that, if left alone, they can find übn money and build another canal, and further they do not see why their Government should loan £8,000,0C3 to an opposition and foreign company. The German papers, with exceptional unanimity, declare that the British merchants are entirely right. On the other hand, the French press, in the words of the Debats, declares that " never will the French Government consent to the spoliation of '{ one of France's most precious jewels—a work which reflects the greatest honor on the spirit of initiative of the nation." That sounds very pretty. But if somebody else likes to build a canal with their own money, and t for the accommodation of their own ships, it is hard to see who has the right to say them nay. Mr Gladstone has succeeded in postponing the consider* ation of the subject for a season, and that : is well, French susceptibility will have time to cool down.