8 OCTOBER 1881, Page 2

The Tunis correspondent of the Times, telegraphing rid Cagliari, in

order to avoid M. Roustan's agents, declares, on October 6th, that secret negotiations are going on between France and the Bey. He has been offered the rescission of the Treaty of May 12th and the withdrawal of the French troops, if he will cede all Tunisian territory west of the Medjerdah, so giving France the great harbour of Biserta and all the Kronmir country. The Prime Minister resists this proposal, doubtless thinking that Tanis will still lie at the mercy of France, or secretly hoping for an Arab success. The statement is quite compatible with the views attributed to M. Gambetta, and is possibly true ; but it is inconsistent with the steady despatch of troops, and the arrangement would not be considered honourable by the French Army, which frets under its present want of success in Africa.