30 JUNE 1894, Page 17

It is most unfortunate for the good relations of France

and -Italy that the assassin should belong to the latter people. The Governments of both countries understand that the in- cident has no national meaning, as of course the profession of Anarchy involves denationalisation. The French mob, however, does not understand this ; and in Lyons, Grenoble, Montlucon, and other places, the mob has attacked Italian restaurants and threatened Italian Consulates, which at Lyons have been placed under military protection. No life has been taken, but shops have been pillaged or

destroyed, and in Paris great numbers of Italian work- men have been discharged, their French comrades refusing to work any longer with them. The French Government protects the Italians with energy, and the Italian Government is profuse in its condolences, but the outburst of unreason- ing popular feeling necessarily increases the tension already existing between the two countries. It does not appear that the French. workmen have any complaint against the Italians except their competition; but all through the South the feeling is so bitter—as our readers will re- member from the incident of Aigues-Mortes — that even juries cannot be trusted to do justice when Italians have been murdered. The revival of the feud is most unfortunate, but as yet the Italians at home are displaying patience, a report that the French Ambassador at Rome had been mur- dered being a malignant invention.