The French Chamber passed on Wednesday a most extraordinary vote.
There has been for some time a strong opposition to further expense -upon Colonial expansion, especially in the French Soudan ; and M. Bozerian gave ex- pression to this in a resolution that Ministers should be made personally responsible for expenditure incurred by them in their official capacity, the effect of which would be that no Minister would spend anything, however little, without a pre- vious credit from the Chambers. The motion was supported by many stories of the increase of official posts without necessity, and of outlays sanctioned in the Colonies for the purely selfish enjoyment of the higher officials. The Ministry hardly defended itself, reserving explanations for a great debate to be held later on, and the resolution was actually carried by 309 votes to 54. It will not be acted on, of course; but it indicates the deep distrust felt of the " Colonial" policy of late years,—a distrust which will, it is believed, be deepened by a debate on M. de Lanessan's wild " conces- sions" in Tonquin, and perhaps by news from Madagascar. The army of invasion there is suffering cruelly from fever and dysentery, and can hardly move forward owing to the imperfection of the means adopted for forwarding supplies. According to the latest intelligence, it seems probable that the Roves, who have hitherto declined battle, have got behind General Duchesne, have certainly cut his telegraph, and have probably stopped or impeded his supplies from the coast. A great disaster in Madagascar would probably be fatal, not only to the Government but to the Republic.
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