AFTER Waterloo there was a general desire in France for vengeance on perfidious 'Albion, But the Bourbons' who returned to power owed their restoration to England; and" the country was exhausted by the Napo-iconic Wars As: the: years-passed-on and the introduction of steamers and the electric' telegraph brought the' two countries nearer together, animosities'died down. Louis. Philippe and Louis Napoleon were' both personally friendly to England, and both of them ultimately found' a refuge there. Occasions arose, as in Russia and in China, in which French and English troops fought side by side instend of being found on opposite sides, while a very large trade bound together thé'commercial classes of the two countries. Fluctuations' in' this friendship there have been, Even in Louis Philippe's time there was much wild talk-in France of invading England, and it was only some four years after the close of the Crimean War, in which the French and English armies had tought: and: conquered side' by. side, that' the "Times" published 'Tennyson's appeal "Riflemen Form 1" on the plea that True' that: we have a faithful ally, But' only the' Dévil knows what' he means!"
In the great war of 1870-71 the misfortunes of France met with' universal sympathy in England, and when the siege of Paris was taised, England gladly went' to the assistance of her; wounded friend. The' interests' of France and England: touch in many places on: the world's' surface that: occasional: friction there must be, and' for a time' the Fashoda incident aroused again a bitter feeling in France; but to the honour of the statesmen who have held: the ports folio of Foreign Affairs in' the prevent Republic it must be: recorded, that they have never allowed these feelings'to grow into hostile. action, and throughout the" course'of the recent war in' South Africa, France" chivaltously: refrained' from taking. advantage of or: increasing: our embarrassments:
Since' Fashoda the relations" between Fratice and England have been of a negative character, but: we see with: great' pleasure that' a' positive frienidliness*is* now growing up'apain' between' the two' country If the "Spectator" is right, thia is largely due to the -protest' raised in the British Press against our temporary alliance with Germany in regard to Venezuela; but then the tion of Geriiany néwadi the vision of the "Spectator." Whatever' the cause, there have been! several indications of late that the French are" beginning' to like us again; but this change began, not with' the Venezitela- business. but with the' genuine' synipathy of: the French'at the tinié of the' postpone-
Powers who fice each other across the Channel. Germany and her world-policy may be able to slide in between France' and Britain if they are apart. If they take hands-or stand together in friendship, all hope for the accom-pushment of Germany's cherished scheme of Empire falls to the ground." What impairs the force of this is, that 80 difficult is it to get at the truth of the agreement between England and Germany as to Venezuela; that it is not certain that the proposal for joint ment: last year of the coronation of action did not come from our Govern-King: Edward, who has always been ment. The anxiety' to advertise the. personally: very popular in' Paris; friendship between England and Ger-and it will be cemented' by' the many has been really displayed by King's approaching visit to France, our Goverment; it was our Cabinet One of the indications' mentioned -by Minister who "paid an official visit to the "Spectator" isa: speech mide'
German Arify manceuvres and acby M. Delafosse, in the' French' Chamcepted 'a German decoration. ber, on the 10th of Marth last, asto One reagan why French eyes are which -the "able and judicious" cor-again looking kindly across the Chan-respondent of the "Times" at Paris nel is that there is a cooling of the wrote: "It is evident from the altered affection between France and Russia. tone of French public utterances re-This is' one of those secrets that specting England within the past everybody knows' but that are not yet couple of months thatthe moral of the public. But whencesoever it arises, the Venezuela affair; and of the'attitiide revival ofa good understanding be-of the British nation towards' Ger-tween France and England is a good many, has also not beer lost upon thing in itself, good for b>th nations, politicians of all shades of opinion' i and for the world at large. this' country: It isa lesson; there: fore, that'has been'doubly taught} and it is gratifying to find: that it has not been lost even on Anglophobe
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.