M. Delcasse also has made his statement on Chinese affairs.
It appears that the expedition is mist unpopular in France, • as causing expenditure and involving'indefinite risks, and the
French Premier in his speech to the Chamber on Tuesday - was almost humbly apologetic. He had, he said, sent out twenty thousand men, but it was indispensable to rescue the Legations, and assist in garrisoning Shanghai. There were now only twelve hundred French soldiers in Pekin, and the Government was acting in full accord with that of Russia. He had himself laid down bases for a treaty which had received the approbation of the Powers, and - "hoped that they were nearing the threshold of negotiations," • — a carefully worded phrase which does not suggest their rapid termination. He entirely, objected to fix a date when the national sacrifices would end, and was evi- dently not quite satisfied that every Power was disinterested. In the event, however, of anybody snatching anything, "France would continue to watch over her equilibrium." M. Delcasse took much credit for saving M. Fianois in Yunnan by his threat to the Viceroy, and, indeed, considered that he had saved the Legations by his correspondence with Prince Ching and Yung Lu, but the general tone of his speech suggests a man who is dragged into a great enterprise which he secretly distrusts. .
