FRANCE AND DAHOMEY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 16 May 1890, Page 15

FRANCE AND DAHOMEY.

IN the French Chamber on Saturday, March 8, M. Etienne, the Under-Secret&ry for the Colonies, replying to questions as to French relations with Dahomey, said that nothing occurred to disturb the relations of the two countries until Gle-Qle, the late King of Dahomey, in consequence of foreign threats, suddenly disputed the validity of the treaties with France, and refused to recognise the French protectorate over Porto-Novo, the King of which was his vassal. In April last Gle-Gle left his capital and attacked Porto-Novo ; and, after pillaging and burning the native villages and carrying off a large number of the inhabitants, sold a portion of their territory to foreigners. In reply to a French protest against this action, the King declared that if the territory were not evacuated he would make a fresh incursion in March. M. Bayol, Lieutenant-Governor of the Southern Rivers and their dependencies, was then despatched to the capital of Dahomey to remonstrate with the King. Gle-Gle, however, treated him more as a prisoner than a guest, and for thirty-three days the Governor was obliged to remain and be present at the massacre of hundreds of men and women, who were sacrificed in honour of the King. The horrible sights that he was compelled to witness had such an effect upon M. Bayol that he fell ill ; but before leaving the capital he demanded definite explanations from the King, and inBiated that the treaties made with France should be recognised and reßpected. The King replied violently and insolently that the territory of Kotonou belonged to him and that France must evacuate it. He also denied the French rights over Porto-Novo. M. Bayol returned to the coast and some time afterwards learned that the King Koudo, who had succeeded his father, Gle Gle, was assembling a large force. The Governer then applied for two companies of Senegal sharpshooters in order to assure the security of the French subjects and foreigners on the sla/e coast. Three companies were despatched and landed at Kotonou, where, on the morning after their disembarkation, they were attacked by the Dahomeyans, who, however, were repulsed both on this and on subsequent occasions, j Unfortunately an incident had arisen which caused the Government grave anxiety. Six Frenchmen, MM. Bontemps, Legrand, Pietri, Chaudoin, and Thoris, and Father Dorgere, a Catholic missionary, had imprudently remained at the Dahomeyan port of Whydab, despite the endeavours of M. Bayol to induce them to return to the French settlements, having been assured that their lives were not in danger by a traitorous half-caste, who represented himself to be a Portuguese subject, but who was the friend and confidant of the King of Dahomey. All six had been attacked by niijht when absent from their residences, bound, and carried off as prisoners up country. In conclusion, M. Etienne said : " If, after the lessons taught the King of Dahomey, we do not receive complete satisfaction, if the treaties are not respected, and if we are not allowed to retain our protectorate, more energetic measures must be taken, not with the view to any fresh conquest, but to inflict on our adversaries such punishment as will definitely settle the question. We Bhall ask the Chamber not to have recourse to a system of half-measures, but to take action that shall be at the same time vigorous and decisive." The Ministerial statement was received with cheers.

Tourists and visitors to the Lakes will find Mcßride's Family Hotel, Queensto^n, a most desirable place of stay. The house is well and conveniently situated, and is managed with strict attention to the comfort of its inmates.

I (Truth) see it stated that the O'Goiman Mahon is eighty-seven. His age is ninety-three. lam sorry to hear that he is not very well, but his constitution is so strong that I trust he will remain with ■as for many a year, as an exemplar of an Irish gentleman of the old school.

Cardinal Manning was enthusiastically cheered at a great Eight Hour demonstration of the labour unions of New York in Cooper Union, and was eulogised most heartily by one of the principal Bpeakera. The spectacle, says theiVen, York Freeman, was a rare one and worthy of note, as showing how strongly the great English Prince of the Church has endeared himself to the labouring masses the world over.

The Sacred Congregation Gf Riles has held a preliminary enquiry into the virtues and miracles of Ange de Pas, a Franciscan priest of the Strict Observance. This holy friar was a native of Perpignan, whence he was sent into Spain to initiate the reform of his Order, a work he carried out with much zeal and success. A contemporary of Sixtua the Fifth, he enjoyed the friendship of this Pope, who called him to IV me and ordered him to write a commentary upon the four Gospels. — Weekly lieghtur, The following interesting letter from Dr. Berliner, professor in the Rabbinical Seminary of Berlin, appears in the Moniteurde Rome : — " I beg the editor of the Monitcnr dc Borne to add my name to the names of those who think it well to thank the administration of the Vatican archives for its ready aid and liberality to the learned in utilising hifctoric treasures. I have had occasion to visit these archives twelve times since 1873, and I think I have some right to apeak on the subject. History, grateful for the precious material which is brought to light from these archives, will recognise how much it is indebted to the improvements introduced under the Pontificate of Leo XIII, with the object of facilitating and rendering more expeditious the use of the archives." And yet we have Protestants sometimes charging the Catholic Church, of which Leo XIII, is the head, with obscurantism.