The French Budget Committee passed on Tuesday a most significant
vote. In spite of an eager speech from the Premier, M. Ribot, they rejected an application for an extra 2300,000 for new ships and marine works. The " Reporter" of the Committee then proposed as a compromise that £160,000 should be granted, but the Committee were ob- durate and would grant nothing. It is suggested that the refusal was due to a conviction of the hopelessness of vieing with England in such expenditures, but we fancy the explana- tion is more important still. The Committee knew that the Government must ask a great sum for the Madagascar expedi- tion, and 24,000,000 for Tonquin "to clear off arrears," besides the indefinite cost of a new Colonial Army, and they were de- termined on retrenchments. They sought, therefore, the line of least resistance, and, knowing France, found it in the Naval Department. National patriotism would have been aroused if they had starved the Army Budget, but only a few French- men are sincerely interested in the strength of the Navy. The people want glory from their next great effort, and do not expect glory from a great maritime campaign. Napoleon's defeats at sea stopped his career, but they never diminished his repute in France. Frenchmen expected them as they ex- pected hail in winter.
