NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AS we imagined would be the case, the news from Burmah has grown serious. King Theebau has got it into his head that France will support him, and has returned an insolent answer to a remonstrance from the Viceroy, declining even to discuss his complaints. It is added that he intends to seize all the property of the Bombay and Burmah Trading Company, for not paying his arbitrary fines. It has been resolved, therefore, to send him an ultimatum, and Mr. Bernard, the Chief Com- missioner of British Burmah, has asked for 8,000 troops. M. de Preycinet, on application from Lord Salisbury, has disavowed any intention of interfering in Burmah ; but there is a grave suspicion in India, or more than a suspicion, that previous to 'his fall, M. Jules Ferry had arranged to support Russia in the North-West by raising trouble for Lord Dnfferin in the South- East. That would be just like him. There is a belief abroad— well founded, we suspect—that it is intended to quash this intrigue by annexing Burmah ; and although, for reasons stated elsewhere at length, we hold that plan to be full of danger, the provocation is extreme. The French have lost all judgment in their momentary dislike of England ; and the command of the Upper Irrawaddy is too vital a question to be played with. If the French were at Mandelay, Bengal itself, the source of our surplus revenue, would require a garrison of 25,000 Euro- peans. The frontier complication in the North would be a joke to such a situation. Fortunately, France has receded ; and we have time to consider alternatives.
