PARISIAN LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2292, 19 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

PARISIAN LETTER.

Paris, January 15. M. Blanc, the senior member of the Chamber ot Deputies, gained applause from the left and centre in opening the session by his declaration that the Chamber had ostracised all loans and new taxes, and was determined that the Budget should be balanced by reductions of expenditure and financial reforms. By an unfortunate coincidence, just as he was uttering those words, the press received communication of an outline of the Minister of Finance's plan on the Budget of 1887. which was adjourned from the last session. The Government will demand an increase of 20 per cent, in the sugar duties, and if this is not a new tax it is very much like one; and it also proposes to raise over 380 millions of francs by bonds redeemable in sixtysix years. If that is not a new loan it has considerable analogy with one. This irionevis required to pay off 75 millions of the 100 millions of Treasury bills which fall due this year, and should have been included in the ordinary Budget, to provide resources for the extraordinary Budget, to pay the guaranteed railway interest, and lastly to place an additional sum of 80 millions at the disposal of the Minister of War for armaments. In the Chamber M. Floquet was elected President, and on his re-election delivered an opening address, which was well received in all quarters. He said that the essential condition of the peace, to which all were attached, was that all should do their duty and assure to France the respect of everyone. At the Senate the electing of M. Le Royer as president was practically unanimous, 162 votes out of 191 being carried in his favour. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Flourens, received the Bulgarian delegates on the morning of the 9th inst. The interview lasted an hour. M. Grekolf the spokesman of the delegates, addressed the Minister by tracing the different phases through which the present Government in Bulgaria had passed, concluding by explaining the difficulties in which it is now placed. The Regency, he stated, was perfectly aware of its situation, as also that of Europe in general, and vvas disposed in order to arrive at a solution, to make any concessions compatible with the ultimate independence of Bulgaria, but it did not believe that the candidature of the Prince of Mingrelia could be accepted, as it neither assured to the country the stability which it so much needed nor the liberty to which it had a ri<?ht. M. Floerens in reply said he had received the delegates as private persons, because he could not in any degree acknowledge that they had a regular mandate. Bulgaria had, he added, an internal independence, but in international questions she was subject to the Porte, which alone had the right to speak in her name. France was too mindful of treaties and too desirous for the integrity of the Ottoman Empire to swerve from that rule. Nevertheless, in his official capacity, he was pleased to receive M. M. Staiioif, Grekolf, ami Kaltcheff, and to listen to their statements. The Minister said that he sincerely sympathised with his visitors in their country's misfortunes, but he lirmly believed that the best manner for overcoming the difficulties which had been pointed out to him would be primarily to take into account the wishes of Russia, to whom Bulgaria owed its existence. He could say uothinor relating to the candidatures, as he considered the moment premature, but was it not regrettable that the Prince of Mingrelia had been so strenuously rejected by the Regency? M. Flourens said, in conclusion, that it was the duty of France to study die general interest of Europe, which was peace; and, on this account, the Minister said he could only recommend the quickest and surest means for arriving at a solution. The Premier received the delegates on the following day. M. Grekoff explained to the President of the Council the position of the Reeency and of the delegates. M. Goblet, in reply, said he had nothing to add to the declaration of M. Flourens. France, although sympathetic towards the liberties of other nations, must, above everything, occupy herself with her own interests, and she had no interest demanding intervention in Bulgaria, and the deputation left after an interview which only lasted a few moments. The delegates having heard all that the French Ministers have to say will go on their way, consoling themselves with the supplementary beatitude invented by some philosophic mind. " Blessed is ho who expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed."