Eauty in September we published a Reuter's telegram according to which the Paris Sidcle Imd stated that the reception of the French naval squadron at Cronstadt could tive blot out the objections of France to allow Russia to occupy Constantinople. The Siécle's article, " very important one, is thus sunnnarised for the T'imes by ite Paris correspondent The Siécle reproves in very intelligible language the enthusiasm of the Novosti in certain utterances of what in France would surely be called Chauvinism, in reference to the results likely to follow from a Russian and Turkish rapprochement. The Novosti appears to believe that the aim of Russia in assuring to itself a free and permanent passage by the Bosphorus is only to aid France in the role of Keeping peace in the Mediterranean and to repress the ambition of England. This, thinks the Sidele, is rather too much to ask of France. France would never think of allowing Russia to occupy Constantinople, nor is there any Frenchman who would venture to call Russia a Mediterranean Power, or to imagine that Russian intervention is a necessity in securing the stability of that sea. England's rights are quite as definite as Russia's.—'* Russia," saya the Sidele, count on the support of France in its Oriental diplomacy, provided we have constant, proof that it is, like us, firmly attached to the doctrine of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. We do not believe Thave before called attention to previous expeditions leaving European Russia for the exploration of Tibet and the territory along the northern frontier of China, und now another expedition is being arranged for the so-called exploration of that country. AtSt. Petersburg it was stated a short time ago that the policy of China towards Russia was easing in aggressiveness, and as a proof of this assertion it was pointed out that the Chinese Government had given its assent yo the construction ofa railway from Peking close up to the Russian frontier. At a special meeting of officers at the headquarters of the General Staff at St. Petersburg a few days the military position of China was discussed, and one of the generals who took a prominent part in the meeting stated that the Chinese Army numbered nearly onemilliontivebundred thousand men. Whether these proceedings have any connection with the sending of ten cruisers from the Black Sea ports, heavily charged with heavy guns, ammunition, and other warlike material, for Viadivostock, during the last three months, it would be interesting to know. One thing is certain, that, in the event of any war taking place in the Kast, Vladivostock has been lately so well fortified, upwards of seven million roubles having just been expended on fortifications there, that its position is considered by the Russians to be impregnable, and it will form base for any operations that Russia maj wish to carry out in the East. It is to be hoped that all these preparations are not lost thd ay ite from the uglish: who, pobese specially in China, where Russia is likely to sight of by the authorities in India, and them uslbwfully, if the Russia the sughest lity of reaching make her next move when dealing with matters in Asia. territorially to the Mediterranean, Of any policy save one—namely, preserving the sea a free sea—France would have something to say; and let not Russia imagine that thi is the price to be paid for a Cronstadt reception, however charming. France does not promise Russia to help to secure the sarus quo in Western, Europe only, asia to break the stans quo in the Belkan Peninsula,' No; and let not Russia have any such ideas. But, it is not likely that the Novosti represents the ideas of the Govern-
It will, no doubt, be noted that while Franco will not assist Russia in any attempted expansion in South-east Europe, "Russia may count on the support of France' in its oriental diplomacy." We It might be worth while to consider whether, if we encouraged France to little farther expansion in Asia, she might not be less disposed to connive at Russia's Our policy seems to have hitherto shaped in the direction of dividing Asi tween only two European Powers, Russia and ourselves; perhaps if we gave a larger share to France, she might be disposed to assist us in preventing Rus-coming beyond a certain parallel of latitude. There is little other foreign news in the papers, except that it is thought that there is a good chance now of a reconciliation between Emperor William and Prince Bismarck, which " will take the shape of a modus vivendi, according to which Prince Bismarck will stop his attad government, and will be ce questions of importance by the Emperor's Ministers, without, however, receiving any definite post,'
The Italian journals are naturally much disgusted at the proposition to transfer the English mails from Brindisi to Salonica, and the Overland Mail trauelates the fullowing article on the subject from the Pribuna During the last few days the question of transferring the Indian mail route from Brindisi to uca, a project already once abandoned in 1888, has been so freely discussed that, while quite aware that our Postal Ad: ninistration is in treaty with the English Government for the continuance of the present London-Brindisi service. we have thought it worth while to go into the matter to see if the
from Ostend to Salonica would actually afford adoption of the line of railway crossing Europe the saving of time that is popularly accorded to it.
Our researches, however, give an exactly opposite result, as is shown by the following comparison of the two services Vid Brindisi (actual), Hours, Tondon, Dover, Calai 405 Calais, Modane, Bi 2,183; 44-20 Brindisi, leagues per hour) 77°00
Total hours......125 25
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.