The French Government has, as we believe, allowed one of
those acts of political profligacy which we all trust are impos- sible in this country. It has, in order to influence a debate, used a telegram of the first importance, which it must have known to be substantially an invention. On Tuesday evening, as the Tonquin debate was growing hot, M. de Freycinet rose and read a telegram 'announcing that the native Government of Madagascar had signed a treaty submitting to a French Pro- tectorate; surrendering to a French Resident all control of foreign affairs; ceding Diego Suarez Bay to France ; and agreeing to pay £400,000 as compensation for injuries done. It is nearly impossible that the Hovas, who have not recently been attacked, far less defeated, should have consented to any such terms, more especially to the French protectorate, which makes of the Queen a vassal like an Indian Prince. They have hitherto absolutely refused any such proposition. M. de Freycinet, indeed, was careful to say that the Treaty had not been "ratified ;" and that really means that, even if a Treaty has been signed, which we doubt, it has to be submitted to the Government at Antananarivo, which will declare the submissive clauses to be ultra vire& Triumphs of this kind, entirely un- expected and at variance with all antecedent facts, do not occur in the very middle of debates, even among a people like the French, who both understand and admire strong scenic effects, and who might withhold the telegram until the most effective moment. If there is a Treaty, we shall find next week that there has been a "misconception of its purport in matters of detail," and that France has obtained no general dominion, direct or indirect, in Madagascar.
