EXTRACTS FROM FRENCH NEWSPAPERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 5

EXTRACTS FROM FRENCH NEWSPAPERS.

[Specially Translated fob. Tub Dosk?jion.] THE MEETING .'OF- THE EMPERORS. Tho Paris "Temps " says:—"The recent meeting of Nicholas 11. and the Emperor of Germany has attracted tho attention of the world, as much owing to the duration of the meeting as to the brilliant surroundings with whicji the German Government choso to invest it.' ■'■ - ■ ' • / "This meeting, eagerly desired hy Germany as a living proof of the friendly terms on which; she- stands, with her, nearest.neighbour, was not displeasing to tho authorities at St. Petersburg. The two Governments are desirous of maintaining a cordial understanding. Ever since the accession of William 11. ho has been most anxious to demonstrato tlic -..existence of this undorstahding, and ho has spared no pains to increase the warm friendship' between tho two reigning houses'. • It was he that initiated ■ the ! last interview which took place under similar circumstances in 1905; and it was but-natural that the Emperor Nicholas should have been willing to return ' the visit—in • German waters—which'had been paid to "him at sea on that occasion. ■ ■■■" ; ' ."'■''; "There were not wanting subjects of considerable interest'to be discussed by- the two monarchs and their Ministers. ; Diplomatic questions of the , first importance to Russia had just been' Settled. The RussoJapanese 'rapprochement' arid the' AngloRussian 'entente' are in themselves' of sufficient moment to considerably modify the hitherto situation, and are , fraught'with such" possibilities foi tho future as to justify' Germany in. .keeping a watchf \\\' eye on'any probable rearrangement of forces: , It is perfectly reasonable that William 11/ should have been anxious te judge for himself in what spirit Russia hac entered into these agreements; nor can w< be surprised .that Nicholas "11. , on- liis-part-manifesting as he-does , feelings of friendshij for his German "neighbours-should hav( been willing to reassure thc : German Em peroras to his sentiments. On the othei hand, the Ministers accompanying theii sovereigns;will have exchanged views regarding many questions' of importance afrcctirij their respective States. The situation ir Morocco, the Bulgarian question,' affairs ir tho Bast, and'various other matters of in ; t-ernational importance, : a.re.said, to havo had the'fullest consideration.-. ..'...■ ■•> ~,- "We'are assured that the whole tendericj of the interview was to.increase the alreadj existing', lively, desire : , to. maintain peaceful relations; and- the, very' facjt of these twe sovereigns in so amicable a spirit if in itself a guarantee of.continued peace. Th( interview, however, changes'.-nothing'in-the existing/relations,between the two countries concerned and the..other. Powers. .It/will ir no way' affect our. alliance.with' Russia, tin continued binding nature of which is agair proved by the, cordial',reception of our owr General Le Bnin, during ,liis recent ofßcia visit' .to. St., Petersburg. Such . slight, frictior as,.did [exist ,has;.been entirely effaced anc our alliance, with ...Russia, .; with biir 'entente' with England—forms today the basis: of-.our.,foreign policy, is t-hiu fortified and, reamed. " : , ~, . . i "We can therefore view : the meeting a( Swineniunde' with' calmness.. It gives us nc cause'for.'.disquietude, and'if—as we believe it .will—it contributes in any-.way,-to the maintenance,.of;,peace, wo can but.congratulate', ourselves'that it has .-taken place." ' ■ ' •'' V.'MOROCCO;., . ■' . ' :. ■■■"Lo Temp , s.".-says,:—"M..Maura and M, . Revoili diave > had '< aiV interview at St. Sebastian, at whicl the. last details of the FrancoSpanish co-operation in Morocco wore arranged. The two Governments aro in absolute agreement on all points.") . • ,-; "La Epoca " publishes an official note with referpneo to, the.,situntion\created ; by, the events -in ■ Morocco. -. ■■ ■ These> - • events, -it is stated, have in no way' altered "the. cordial relations in which, France and Spain'have stood to the Sultan of Morocco, as is proved by, tho conduct of the Moroccan authorities i themselves. Consequently the Cabinets at Paris and Madrid are continuing to act with tho Sultan in. developing tho agreement come to at Algcciras. : ■ • ' ■ s CHURCH AND STATE IN.ITALY. V, : .An interesting , interview is published: in tho "Journal, de G,enevievo," in which a member of the immediate entourage, of the Pope is said to have referred in stringent terms to tho support,.:,th'e Government ■ is giving to the anti-clerical party. "Rightly or wrongly," the. official , in question:" is credited with .saying, "Pius IX. and Leo XIII. were considered to be .antagonists of United Italy, but the same cannot. be said of Piiis X,, t The -now. Pope, ever since his accession,' has sufficiently proved'that he loved his country, and thatho was desirous of living at peace with the Italian State., He has boon at pains : to demonstrate in riiaiiy ways his sincere dosiro for .conciliation. If," therefore, ii bo shown that,'. even though , the Vati.can may bq actuated.by the best intentions in the .world) .itVis ..to disarm hostility, and that, .between the Papacy and the Italian Government' .the' only .possible relations'''are'those ,of'a state of permanent war; the Holy/See'.will.-bp/unable to avoid drawr ing .qb'vio'us oohclusionsj anttiho divorce betweontheChurchanji tlie'State will.indeed become' irremediable." , '.'."' ... :: ,THE .FRENCH 'COLONIES,.AND ' !, ■'■ ." J/'". .',.'.'■'■','' ■A'DTONokY. ../,-..'-.■- ■' ■ '' ■: ■-, .1 '■■■'■'.' 1,, . ■ ■ . .'i- .- •'■ ■ l' " La Coloniale ". has. an article on autonomy for. thcoFrench colonies.. The following .excerpt, reads curiously, in the light of ,our',,pwn ;deeply-rooted .feelings on ' :the subject of'.'self-government for- our colonies: ,—"Autonomy, for., the colonies will, never v -be adopted by Franco in the.. same sense that England; has accepted,, self-government for many of. her colonies; The almost absolute .independence of Canada and the Australian .Colonies permits them to defend,' even to the disadvantage ..of. the. parent:.: country, their economical, ( interes'ts,;,relieyeß, thenv. of all onerous control; and leaves ontirely to thoir, own goodwill to'give what support thoy may think advisable in critical tinies-4-iu the. case of war, forJnsta'nceTTto..the/rest of the Empire.,. Such a radical separation.as; this be-. twceA- the Mother and her, colonies has never ontered —and probablv never, will enter—into .the..{spirit.' . : in. which France governs her own, dependencies. The French view of a empire is, -that the 'chief reason for tho existence of. colonies is to be useful to the mother country. This has,been, clearly, demonstrated, to. the .French, colonies by imposing upon .them a cpmmercial' system which neither considers their individual interests nor their geographical position, hut frankly : seeks ■■ only'.'to' hnd' outlets'- for the products of the homo land." '