Last Saturday in the French Chamber of Deputies the Premier
made his promised statement on the Moroccan question. We have dealt elsewhere at length with his defence of French policy, and also with the disclosures made in the Yellow-book published last week. Here it is sufficient to note the significant fact that the reception of M. Rouvier's speech proved that not only the Chamber, but the whole
French people, are in substantial agreement with the view which he set forth. So profound was the impression made that M. Cochin and M. Ribot, who had intended to address the Chamber, waived their right, and M. Jaures and his Socialist following, who wished to raise a discussion on international ethics, were overruled, all debate being postponed by a majority of 501 to 51. This action of the Chamber seems to us to show admirable self-restraint and good sense. French Deputies do not keep silent unless there is good cause, but it was generally felt that any flow of oratory would weaken the impression on the world at large which the Premier's calm and closely reasoned speech deserved to make. M. Rouvier's speech is France's final statement of her claims in Morocco,—the case which she intends to present to the forthcoming Conference.
