The event of the week has been the reception of
the Italian Fleet at Toulon, which has been -attended by President Loubet. The visit, of course, was intended to display the friendliness of Italy under its new and more liberal Govern- ment towards France and the readiness of France to accept any overtures. King Victor Emmanuel II. sent the President the Collar of the Annunziata, and the President in reply ex- pressed his hope "for the happy realisation now approaching of the hopes of the Royal house " ; there were banquets and there were speeches, neither of them worth describing. The speakers especially had, it is plain, edited all interest out of their utterances. The reporters notice two facts, the extreme caution of everybody, and the disposition of the crowds to huzza for the Russian officers — the Russian squadron was in the-harbour--while regarding the Italians in respectful but very colcl silence. They know Italy will not fight Germany, and they hope Russia will. The reception of President Loubet on his route and at Toulon was most cordial, and in all the complicated ceremonials the middle-aged lawyer made no blunder.
