of the present state of things. The establishment of a French submarine cable system hal often been talked of, but as long a French merchants and financiers were able to use English exiles without interference the want of a competing system was not felt here. Even where competi did exist (between France and ited States, for instance), the lines were generally preferred by F busi a ant of their greatly The operations of the itary censors have opened eyes to the fact that if war with to occur the principal would at once be cut off from communication with the mother-country. There is now. strong current of in favone of Government subsi hole series of French cables, and there is not the least doubt that the Government's scheme will be ratified by Parliament and that, in a few years, England will have lost one of her principal advantages over France.
he Government's Lill for the creation all cable messages between the Governor, General and his superiors at home pass over the English lines and are, it is asserted, known to the British Government before they reach Paris. The cost of laying these cables is estimated at 17 million franes, or £680,000, At present it is suggested that the work should be carried out by contract and the lines afterwards leased to a private company, but the Government does not seem to have definitely made up its mind as to how the scheme is to be carried out,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.