The French are not pleased with the Anglo-German agree- ment,
nominally because the cession of Heligoland makes Germany stronger in her own seas, really because it reveals a friendship between England and Germany which renders in- trigue in Egypt quite useless. The Republicans say that no sole Protectorate of Zanzibar can exist without their con- sent, as the independence of the State is protected by treaty; but M. Ribot declines to discuss the matter, as it is under negotiation. He only wants, it is believed, a solatium, pro- bably a reduction of the period during which Great Britain is entitled to the benefit of "the most-favoured nation" clause in Tunis. The Ministry wish to make Tunis finan- cially a Colony, with a protective tariff. France has no interests in East Africa, except, indeed, the sale of pro- tection papers to slavers, and cannot, therefore, make of Zanzibar a cause of quarrel. One wonders if she is secretly protecting the slave-trade, using Holland as a cat's-paw. That little Power, which has no possessions in Africa, has certain treaty rights over tariffs in the Congo State, and has just used them to forbid the imposition of a small duty intended to supply means for the suppression of the Congo slave- raiders. That is an inexplicable annoyance to all Europe, but France does not desire the Congo State to prosper. If King Leopold, who is by European decree its Sovereign, is com- pelled to sell his rights, France has a right by treaty to the pre-emption. She may intend to exercise it, though, be it remarked, the peasant voters have to be heard from first about their conscript sons. They would as soon hear of the acquisition of a good broad bit in the infernal regions.
