FRENCH DISINGENUOUNSNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 9 March 1899, Page 4

FRENCH DISINGENUOUNSNESS.

Whenever France falls out. with England her favourite accusation .to hurl against her neighbour across the Channel is that of double-dealing-. 'Perfidious-Albion' appears to be to the

irritated Gaul the most satisfying, epithet he can employ to express his contemptuous detestation of England. It has never been very clearly shown, however, that the English have been ' more unscrupulous in the means they use to gain their ends than any other of the European nations. Of course, everyone that the game of diplomacy is not precisely a Sunday School pastime. There are I moves in it that, judged by a strict ethical standard, are more than questionably honest, but to say that Great Britain has pursued more underhand methods than other players of the game, that she has been flagrantly disloyal towards her friends, or exceptionally selfish, is to assume what there is no evidence to support. On the other hand, we are inclined to think that her domestic and foreign policy has, in the main, been characterised by a wonderful openness and frankness. The form of government, and the unfettered state of the press and public opinion are unfavourable to that secrecy which 5s necessary for successful double-dealing. It would not be easy for British statesmen to play an underhand game long, however much it might appear to their advantage to do so; and such a course would probably be more repugnant to the straightforward instincts of the nation than a, similar line of conduct on the part of their statesmen would be to the less seriously-minded Frenchmen. The Muscat incident is not calculated to raise one's opinion of French diplomatic honesty. The conduct of M. Delcasse has been inadmissibly crooked in endeavouring to convince the Chamber of Deputies, and through it the French people as a whole, that Great Britain had entirely revoked her attitude in regard to the proposed acquisition of territory # by France. His intention was to show the triumph his Government had achieved, and for the moment his false representation had the effect he desired. The French newspapers were jubilant to think that England had been forced to back down and apologise. But the effect surreptitiously obtained was not lasting. Following fast on the profound surprise which M. Delcasse's statement produced in England came an official denial of it from the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs. It is made clear there that the British Government never repudiated the action of its agent at Muscat. On the contrary, it was entirely upheld. What really took place is stated in our cable columns this evening. A year ago France, through her agent at Muscat, obtained from the Sultan the cession of a small harbour with the right to hoist the French flag and fortify the spot. When this became known to. England representations v/ere apparently made to the French Government, but M. Delcasse pretended ignorance of the acquisition,- and virtually denied it had taken place. Later, however,, the facts of the case could not be concealed, and Lord Salisbury declared that the lease of the pert must be cancelled. This was done, but at the same time it was agreed by the. Home authorities that France should have a coaling station. Perhaps the incident is most significant, as a symptom among matiyot the condition of public feeling in France at this moment, and the forces by which it is worked upon. M. Delcasse must have known that his misrepresentations could not pass unchallenged for twenty-four hours, but he was prepared to risk that for the sake of the mere momentary effect. The some spirit.pervades the whole country. No one knows what a' day may bring forth. The sentiment, the desire, the fear of the moment are the paramount forces, and the statesmen as well as the schemers of the day have perforce to employ them. There is no time to look forward to the morrow, when every minute of to-day is taken up in endeavouring to steer one's course along the raging tumultuous stream. In the confusion there is little ehajice to think of the Niagara that may lie ahead.