Paris is greatly agitated by a fear that things are
going wrong in Tonquin, and IL Cl6mencean on Thursday tried to obtain permission to make an interpellation. He maintained that a memorandum had been received from China making an attack on Bacninh a cams belli, that, nevertheless, an attack had been ordered, and that consequently the Ministry were decreeing war, contrary to the Constitution. H. Ferry replied, alleging this and that of no importance ; but his substantive answer was that negotiations were going on, and that if the Parliamentary system required the premature publication of documents like the memorandum, the Republic would have to dispense both with diplomacy and a foreign policy. He would discuss everything when the Vote of Credit for Tonquin came on. The Chamber, on a division, affirmed this view by 308 votes to 195; but the minority is formidable, and the Chamber shaky. It does not want war with China. In the course of his speech, H. Ferry let his thoughts loose for a moment, and spoke of "the serious situation," producing cries of surprise and alarm from all sides, except his immediate party. He made haste to explain that he only meant to say that any war three thousand leagues off was serious ; but the first impression was indelible. We endeavour to explain elsewhere the " seriousness " of' which IL Ferry was thinking.
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