Eighty French Deputies have, it is stated, signed a protest
addressed to the Budget Committee demanding explanations as to the method in which the deficit will be met, and implicitly censur- ing M. Ferry's Colonial policy. M. Jules Valles, the old Socialist, has published in the Malin a remarkable paper, warning his countrymen against a war with "the silent race," in whose capital one sees no uniforms, but who spring to war when com- pelled; and at the annual meeting of Alsatians on Wednesday every speech was directed against quarrelling with England. It was stated that the Army was heartily opposed to war with England, the great sacrifices of the past fourteen years having been sanctioned with a widely different motive. Of course, the Alsatians wish to recover Alsace; but the dislike to a policy of adventure, and to M. Ferry as its originator, is obviously in- creasing, and gathers strength from the fact that the Chamber is running out its allotted period. The returning Deputies all speak of rural discontent, and we see little evidence of any hostility in France to England, except on the part of Bond- holders, who want a guarantee ; and there is certainly none on this side. France is considered to behave shamefully ; but towards inferior peoples rather than towards Englishmen.
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