Tr is not, we think, difficult to form an approximate idea of what should be the guiding principle in French policy- with regard to China. There is certainly much room for doubt whether French statesmen consider 2 Chinese war desirable if it can be avoided, and we are at least justified in believing that actual hostilities will only: be resorted~to in the event of absolute necessity. In other words, we suppose that Franco, like every other civilised nation, would profer to obtain what elid' wants by negotiation, rather than incur the troubles, anxieties, and risks attendant upon a campaign waged 60 far from her own frontiers; and though the Chinese may be perfectly sure that Franco will never shrink from a war if there be no other way open to her of settling the dispute, there is no reason to suppose that a war with Ohina is in itself the aim and object of her ambition. It may, therofore, be as well to point out one rather important feature inthe situation as it exists at present, and let those draw the moral whom it most concerns.
Briefly, then: the anxiety of France that the Marquis Tseng should be recalled may, woe think, be interpreted as an indication of the desire of French statesmen for facilitating the settlement of the dispute, There is no question whatever that, whatever the Marquis's private and personal convictions may be, ho has been thronghout the mouthpiece of. the War Party in Peking. Even by the traditions and associations of his own family he la more or less identified with that section of the Government. No one could be more Chauvinist than his illustrious father Tseng Kuo-fan, while his uncle, Ts6ng Kuo-chian, though perhtips more moderate, is generally credited with somewhat accentuated ' patriotic' leanings. The French, therefore, cannot but feel that the chosen exponent of China's warlike policy is not exactly the man to continue to represent Ohina during the conduct of negotiations the object of which is peace.. Nor, perhaps, would it be fair to the Marquis himself that he should be used, so: to speak, as the instrament of a more pacific diplomacy, We heard a good deal, some months ago, of the Marquis' having exceeded his instructions, compromised his Government, and being disavowed by Li Hung-chang. We were convinced at the time that these allegations were false, and this convictionhasbeen strong. ly corroborated by late events. The Marquis, so far from exceeding his instractions, carried them out to the very letter. That in doing so he was acting in utter ignorance of the fact China was not in a position of sufficient strength to make good her threats la
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.