Upon the latter subject Mr. Chamberlain was resolute and plain.
He admitted that there were still great differences with France, but evidently thinks that the way to settle them is to speak frankly, and insist that the policy of pin-pricks which has been pursued for so many years should be finally abandoned. " I am not willing to purchase friend- ship at the price of concessions which are never reciprocated, but made the basis of more exacting demands." As regards China, he held an understanding with Russia to be indispens- able, unless serious complications were to be encountered, but maintained that in future we should not in China stand alone, America, Germany, and Japan having identical interests with our own, which the first-named, in particular, has openly
acknowledged in Mr. McKinley's Message of Monday. The whole speech was full of vigour and " go," and will probably strengthen our French friends in their odd idea that Mr. Chamberlain enslaves the Cabinet.
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