The annual dinner of the British Chamber of Commerce in
Paris was given on Saturday last. Mr. Lloyd-George was to have been present, but was prevented from going by the political crisis. The speech of the evening was made by M. Cruppi, the French Minister for Commerce. He dwelt upon the great commercial advantages of the Entente Cordials. In 1904, the year of the Entente, French trade with Great Britain amounted to 270,000,000, but since then it had reached 290,000,000, a sum which justified him "in describing England as the best customer of France." He referred to the Franco-British Exhibition and to the approaching visit to London of President Fallieres. He himself in coming to London again would return "in the spirit of a merchant calling upon his principal customer who was at the same time his best friend." M. Cruppi truly pointed out that Britain imports from France goods which she does not produce her- self. But these, we may add, are paid for by British exports; and the result is highly satisfactory to both countries. Would M. Cruppi have been able to speak in a way so gratify. ing to us if we had met the desire of France to increase her British trade with a wall of tariffs ?
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