On the same day, M. Delafosse raised in the French
Chamber a debate on the same subject, his argument being that the Government had trusted to the perfidious alliance of England, and had so managed affairs as to make Turkish in- tervention inevitable. M. de Freycinet replied that neither France nor Turkey could settle Egyptian questions alone, that many of them concerned all Europe, and that, therefore, he had appealed to the European Concert. He incidentally remarked that the Government would enter on no policy of adventure, or allow of French military intervention. M. Gambetta thereupon sprang into the tribune, declared that the influence of France had been transferred to Europe—" that is, to adversaries "— that firmness was wholly wanting to the Administration; and that in pledging himself not to draw the sword, M. de Frey- cinet had " revealed to Europe the secret of the weakness of France." For a few moments, the Chamber, which dreads war, but thinks M. de Freycinet unsuccessful, grew electrical ; but it calmed down, and by a vote of 298 to 70 carried the proposal that "the Chamber, confiding in the declarations of the Govern- ment, passes to the order of the day." Egyptian affairs are, however, watched with great eagerness in France, where there is a disposition to believe England lukewarm, Europe treacher- ous, and the Sultan hostile.
