THE WEALTH OF FRANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WEALTH OF FRANCE.

The French Ministry of Finance has just published some very interesting and significant statistics as to the amount of French wealth invested abroad, the total of which reaches £1,200,000,000. Only £40,000,000 is invested in Great Britain, as against £280,000,000 in Russia, £120,000,000 in Spain, some £115,000,000 in Austria-Hungary, and £60,000,000 in Italy. In Egypt there is £57,440,000 • invested, and' over ,£60,000,000 in British. South Africa. Most of this money is invested in foreign Government loans, but the South African investments are mines and industrial companies connected therewith. The extent of the foreign commitments of French capital, though large, is not, however, by any means so striking as its distributiop. In that distribution, it is hardly too much to say, may be found a fingerpost to French policy, for no French Government can withstand the combined pressure of the small investor and the great financial houses when they believe their money to be in danger. For example, the investment of £120,000,000 of French capital in Spain makes it absolutely certain that France Avill never be a passive spectator where the vital interests of Spain are concerned, and that revolution involving financial ruin will not be allowed in Spain. Again, the £280,000,000 lent to Russia binds France to Russia more: securely than any formal clauses in a Treaty of Alliance. While, also, French investors have £60,000,000 of capit.il in Egypt, they will never seriously wish to destroy the magnificent security afforded* by the British occupation.