The French Ministry, with the unanimous support of the Deputies
and the country, refused in any way to agree to these demands, and up till Thursday evening it looked as if a deadlock had been reached. We are glad to say, however, that Friday morning's telegrams indicate that Germany will not insist upon demands so unreasonable, and that a way will be found out of the impasse through the medium of a mutual and simultaneous apology, followed by arbitration on the whole incident. The French Government and people have acted throughout with a firmness and a cool- ness which not only do them infinite credit, but deserve the gratitude and thanks of all Europe. To have yielded merely for the sake of a quiet life would have been extremely dangerous, for it might have encouraged the German Govern- ment in further action of a similar nature,—action which, as we have pointed out elsewhere, must in the end involve Europe in a catastrophe. On the other band, if France had lost her temper, though excuses might have been found for her, she would have incurred a very terrible responsibility.
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