The Poverty Bay herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1881.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1323, 17 May 1881, Page 2

The Poverty Bay herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1881.

Tunis has been virtually conquered by France, the Bey having agreed to place the complete control of his Kingdom in the hands of Commissioners appointed by France, and accept suggestions from France in regard to the Bey's Foreign policy, and relations. The right of despatch-, ing troops to any part of the Tunisian territory is also secured to the Republic. News of the event has breu received with great excitement in Italy, where the acquisition of this territory Is considered to be a menace to her supremacy in the Mediterranean, and it is expected that diplomatic representations on the subject will at once be made by Italy to the French Government. The reason of Italy's anxiety in the matter is presumably on account of the commercial relations existing between Tunis and that country, whose interests would doubtless be severely damaged in the event of a French occupation. Lord Salisbury, when Foreign Minister, appears to have so awkwardly compromised the British Government on the side of France, that it is considered a barrier against his nomination as leader of the Conservative party. The Daily Neios of March 25th, says : — We believe that the following is an authentic statement of the Tunis incident : When the Conservatives were arranging for the acquisition of Cyprus, France mentioned the possibility of Tunis some day being open to annexation. Lord Salisbury, the then Foreign Secretary, thereupon made a statement, which the French Ministry construed as an undertaking that England would not object to the annexation of Tunis by France. When some time later the question cropped up Salisbury disclaimed this construction of his meaning, but France alleges that she is in possession of private letters from Salisbury fully confirming her views on the correspondence." This will account for England's passiveness at the invasion of the Tunisian territory. It has been allowed to go as a set-off against the acquisition of Cyprus. The design of France is altogether apparent in this last move. It has long been her ambition to plant herself on the Mediterranean, converting it into a French lake, and making her influence dominant in Southern Europe. First she acquires Algiers, then Tunis, next will come Egypt, and that at no distant date judging from the signs of anarchy in that country, fomented, as is well known, at the instigation of France.

Having secured Tunis by conquest, the question is : what shall shedo with it 1 The Auckland Star, in discussing the subject says : — lt would seem that they intend to do unto Tunis as they did unto Algiers in time past. In the year 1829 the unpopular King, Charles X, in order to regain the favour of his people, determined on the conquest of Algiers, a work which united Europe ought to have accomplished long before. The Algerians were pirates. After a hard straggle their piracies were ended, and the country was conquered. For many years the war lasted, marked with more than one shameful act of cruelty. It was not till 1847 that the Arab chief Ab-del-Kadeu submitted and was sent to France, where he was kept in confinement for five years. But if France did Algiers injustice, and treated the people with severity in the first instance, there is no denying the multifarious benefits

which her occupation has conferred on the country. As a recent writer remarks, " Under French rule the imports of Algiers have risen from two hundred and eighty thousand pounds to five million. Her exports are seven million. Where the wandering Arab camped arc now roads and bridges, and four hundred miles of railway. Where the pirate lurked are lighthouses and harbours. The civilian population has grown to three million, of which two hundred thousand are Europeans. The inhabitants peacefully cultivate the fertile soil, and add to the comfort of mankind by raisingabundantcrops of wheat, cotton, grapes, olives, oranges, tobacco, flax and silk." This isundeniably a pleasing picture, showing a condition of things which the French have been instrumental in bringing about. Financially Algeria has not been a success to themselves ; but as an exercising ground for their soldiers it has been of no despicable service. The territory of Tunis, is adjacent to that of Algeria. The former country, like the latter, is fertile, having in former times supported a population eleven times as numerous as it does now. Its area is 42,000 square miles, i.e., more than one fifth the size of France. Its limits, in fact, may be taken as corresponding with the territory of ancient Carthage, the proud rival of Rome, vanquished only after three long and sanguinary wars. The capital, Tunis, is situated about 10 miles from the site of Carthage ; its population is said to number one hundred thousand ; and it is, after Alexandria, the most commercial city in Africa. The foreign trade of the country is valued at £2,400,000 annually, and is carried on principally with Italy. France, and Great Britain. Whatever may be the present condition of Tunis (and beyond question it is badly governed, its resources are undeveloped, and its general status low), the thoughts of the French authorities go forward into the future, and consider what Tunis might be made. Where esparto grass now luxuriates, corn might flourish, and the magnificent agricultural capabilities of the soil turned to adequate account. The abundant stores of copper, lead, and silver, would be made to yield under the influence of French science and capital, something approaching to a reasonable return. Villages would be converted into towns. The valleys where the wretched inhabitants now occasionally die of famine, would raise three crops in the year. In short Tunis would be made to resume a place more worthy of her ancient glory and importance. The morality of conquering a country, even in order to its advancement and ultimate advantage, will no doubt seem very doubtful to many people ; but we would have them bear in mind that such a course is strictly analogous to the conquest and occupation of India by the British.