FRANCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 115, 18 May 1867, Page 3

FRANCE.

The debate on the foreign policy of France was commenced by M. Thiers, who said that the present state of Europe, and particularly of France, was very serious, owing to the false ideas engendered about the equilibrium of States. The ambition of Russia and Prussia, taking advantage of the idea of nationality, was menacing Europe. He then went on to say that France should not require annexation of territory, but constitute herself the centre of a great conservative party in Europe, combining a new organisation of military forces with a conservative policy afc home. The bill for the reorganisation of the army had been carried. Great discontent and alarm prevailed, in consequence of every able-bodied adult being compelled to serve in the army. The Council of State has approved of the Bill granting a national recompense of 400,000 francs to Lamartine. A fearful hurricane had occurred in tbe Gulf of Lyons; the French iron-clad Couronne had been wrecked, and numbers of the crew perished. There have been serious riots at Roubaix, among the workmen in the cloth factories there, owing to the introduction of new looms, and the troops were called in to quell the disturbance. The announcement of the offensive and defensive alliance between Prussia, Bavaria, Baden, and Wurtemburg, by which the South German Confederation becomes a military power united to the North Confederation, h3S had an astonishing effect in Paris. The general belief is that there will be an early resort to arms. New bills affecting the liberty of the Press havo been published. They are of a much more lenient and liberal character than heretofore. .