FRANCE

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 April 1900, Page 565

FRANCE

The animosity shown by France to England has curious and obviously weak outlets, as depicted by her vain appeals to Germany and Russia to take advantage of England's pressing business in South Africa to. nobble Egypt, in order to fill in the time till she herself has built a fleet which will enable her to come in at the finish, and cause the utter collapse of the nation which, without some such salutai'y check, bids fair to rule the world. Ever prescient Stead has reviewed

tho situation of his country, and taking as au example a. fow of tho early inexperienced reverses in tho Transvaal, points out with what apparent case tho latter part of Franco's programme could bo carried out. This, no doubt, will be encouraging to the would bo victors, but is scarcely calculated to cause much dismay to tho majority of his follow countrymen, who have more faith in tho resources of their country, and less prophetic knowledge of detail. Russia and Germany wisely declined to take a prominont part in tho little scheme proposed, not wishing for any interruption in their presont wrapt attitude of watching the coarse of events, and learning object lessons in nation building, while they have such au excellent chance.