The Opposition in France is still making desperate attempts to
overturn the Ministry, and obtain credit for its management of the Exhibition. It is probable that M. Marcel Sombat, the Socialist who forced General de Galliffet into the Tribune by a Motion forbidding dark troops to enter France, had some underground connection with the Nationalists, and after his signal failure they made an effort of their own. M. Maine, who is their real leader, refused on Wednesday to assent to the order for placarding M. Delcasse's scathing speech on the patriotism of Nationalists, and once more brought up the old charge that it was mon- strous for a Conservative Cabinet to admit M. Millerand, who may be defined as a sane Socialist, as a colleague. The Chamber, however, adhered to the Government, and the order to placard M. Delcasse's speech was carried by 260 votes to 200. It is now expected, therefore, that there will be political peace during the Exhibition, which all Paris is slaving to make profitable. It will be a splendid show, though as yet it is far from ready, and from April 15th Paris, amused, getting rich, and rather tired of violent emotions, will be in no mood to tolerate any action which will drive away the foreigners. In Paris, it is true, things happen, if miracles, as About said, do not, but there is every appearance of some months, perhaps five, of pleasant monotony there.
Previous page
