The French Press, headed curiously enough by M. Leroy- Beaulieu
in the Economists Franpais, is extremely anxious that France should order the Bey to denounce the Commercial Treaty between Italy and Tunis, which, according to the French, becomes denounceable in the course of the next three weeks. The Treaty, they allege, was only made for twenty years certain, but if not denounced, it will be automatically renewed. The Debats, supporting this view, goes on to declare that the Commercial Treaty with England can be denounced at pleasure by either, or if not," by amicable nego- tiations a change in the present system may be obtained." 'That is a somewhat large assumption. Unless we are much mistaken, France will find it very difficult to enter into amicable negotiations with England about the Tunisian Treaty while her negotiations with England are so obviously unamicable in every other part of the world. The present Government are not likely to fall into the mistake of giving way to France in the general and unsecured hope of her being influenced thereby in the direction of friendliness. The talk of denouncing the English Treaty without our leave is non- sense. The maintenance of that Treaty was again and again assured to us by France during the negotiations a propos of the occupation of Tunis.
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