ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1180, 12 October 1894, Page 34

ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

London, October 3. An urgent meeting of the Cabinet Council has been summoned for to-morrow. Sir W. V. Harcourt and Mr CampbellBannerman have been recalled from the Continent by telegraph. The Ministerial journals hint at foreign complications, probably with France. The French Cabinet will meet at the same time as the English. The London press advise extreme caution. There has been a slight fall in public securities. A section of the press assert that the Cabinet is meeting solely to discuss the diplomatic difficulty with France, and that the position is critical. It is believed that the Cabinet is discussing the question of the despatch of Indian troops to the treaty ports in China to protect foreigners, and the advisability of increasing the China squadron. London, October 4. It is officially stated that there is no connection between the simultaneous meetings of the English and French Cabinets. Lord Dufferin and Baron Courcel, the respective Ambassadors, are both absent on leave. The French Government has denied that there is any intention to proclaim a blockade of Madagascar. It is believed the French cruisers were only directed to prevent the import of arms. Diplomatists believe M. Decrais, Ambassador at London, resigned because M. Hanotaux, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, was conducting his negotiations with England in an arbitrary and uncompromising spirit. The French Government has complained that British officers are drilling the Hovas. The Times says England will allow France a free hand in Madagascar within reasonable limits. No question in dispute is likely to suddenly threaten the good relations of the two countries. The Standard considers France is utterly mistaken if she thinks England will allow annexation, for the purpose of establishing naval stations, menacing British trade routes. It reminds France that if war occurs the usual result will be British colonial expension at the expense of the adversary. The Hovas are importing large quantities of Sniders and machine guns from America and the Cape. They hope to induce the Cape colonists to enlist for service in Madagascar. Admiral Fane, superintendent at Portsmouth, has been in consultation with the managers of the dockyards. It is reported that he has been ordered to hurry on the completion of the new ships and the rspairs to those in dock. The Stock Exchange is excited. Consols are weak at 101. Colonial stocks have fallen i to $ in sympathy. It is reported that part of the Channel Squadron has been ordered to Gibraltar. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that French politicians are strongly adverse to the establishment of a British Zollverein, fearing it would still further strengthen the tie 3 between the colonies and the Mother Country. London, October 5. The Ministers have resumed their holidays.

Paris, October 3. The French Cabinet has been suddenly summoned. To-day’s Paris newspapers have a less bellicose tone. Paris, October 4. The Journal cles Debats says the retention of Egypt is the only question which can endanger the peace of France and England. Paris, October 5. The British Charge d’ Affaires, after a cordial interview with M. Hanotaux, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared that every difficulty was perfectly susceptible of settlement. The French Cabinet meeting was simply for the purpose of signing Baron Oourcel’s appointment as Ambassador to London.