Pending the debate on the Tonquin Expedition Bill, the Soleil expresses its regret that the French Govermnent has not thought proper to accept the Conve tion concluded ad referendum betw M. Bourés and the Celestial Empire, Moreover, as the Soleil clearly explain, the Convention secured to France all the advantages for which she had been cou-tending. " Why then" (it ask) has the Convention been rejected? Why are we exposing ourselves with light heart to a war with Chins, which has a population of 300,000,000, and an army of 600,000 men, trained by German officers and pro-ided with Knylish guns and rifles? China ado great, propre: 19 Anglo French expedition of '60 and the battle of Palikao. She is now in a position to stand a great war. And we, without any interest that we can avow, are about to provoke nation with which Russia, not so very long ago, treated with san equal. Woe shall certainly get the better of the Chinese, but only ata sacrifice of many millions of francs and many thousands of men. And, even after obtaining a long succession of military triumphs, we shall never gain greater advantages than those secured by HI. Buurée by diplomatic means and without firing one shot."
The Liberté. which devotes a leading article to M. Blancsubd's report—whioh it styles an idyl—says j= We shall no}
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.