A correspondent sends us an account of an interview he has had with a diplomatist whose tenure of an important post in the Far East has allowed him to become excep tionally well acquainted with affairs there. The conversation turned principally on the part to be played by France in the contro-verses now pending and likely to develop between the Great Powers and China. The role of the Republic in the Anglo-Russian conflict, said this gentleman, must be above allot a passive character. France has with the British Empire too many interests in common which necessitate a friendly solution to allow her lightly toincurhostilepublic opinion in England by showing herself too favourable to the development of Russian policy in China. The differences between England and Russia in the Gulf of Pechili the Yangtze Valley should, he continued, be adjusted by the two great nations themselves without any meddling by third forties. Were it otherwise the danger would arise of a general conflagration which would bring untold misery upon the whole civilised world.
In such a war as that indicated, Great Britaio, in the opinion of the diplomatist in question, would prove the strongest, for her wonderful navy would inflict such disasters upon opposing fleets that. British ea supremacy would once more be reaiirmed, and for a whole century to come, on all seas of the globe. France in the struggle would be terribly exposed. Her seaboard towns would be destroyed and all communication with her Colonies cut off. Nor is it by any means necessary that England should be tu possession of an army to carry on the conflict on land, for she is invulnorable at sea, and her fleet will be able to command all the great naval routes. With her immense resources she wou'd be able to prolong the struggle indefinitely, and we should see her gold and her advice fomenting insurrections everywhere—in China, in Asia Minor, in Morocco, in Algeri And all this in addition to the fect that at least one Power in Europe—Italy—and another in the Far East—Japan—would furnish her with armies, which, in conjunction with British and Indian regiments, might, in Europe on the one side, and in China and Asia Minor on the other, make themselves masters of important bases of operation under the protection of her fleet, while the Continental armies, unable to effect a landing in England, would soon be fighting among thomselves.
For the rest the conditions of the Franco-Russian Alliance do not apply to events outside Europe. France is bound to Russia only for a defensive war in Europe. It is, therefore,.to be hoped that French diplomacy will act with the greatest possible prudence and that it will on the contrary endeavour, should the influence at its command make it possible, to soothe whatever sore feeling. may result from the conflict of influence which we are witnessing between England and Russia in China. ~This," said the diplomatist, is my own opinion, and it agrees with that of the majority: of those who have any influence in France." There is, it may be added, a new factor in Chinese affairs—Germany, who has planted her foot firmly in the Gulf of Pechii. Let Germany goon. Whatever may weaken her and bring her into differences with other -nations will be to the advantage of the Republic. For it must not be forgotten that it is to Germany that France owes the loss of the powerful Position in the Councils of Europe which was hers before 1870. France has no interest in China outside the region of the Yellow River and its tributaries. We have nothing to do in the north of China, where our influence has been long lost, notwithstanding our expedition in 1864 and the more recent victories of Admiral Courbet.—Daily News, 17th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.