The French Press is growing more calm upon the subject
of Egypt. The reserved 5 per cent. upon the coupons will be paid, and it is now announced that France has failed in securing an ally for her Egyptian policy. Russia is occupied in Bulgaria; Austria is not concerned ; Italy declares that as Egypt cannot be left to herself, she prefers a British protectorate to a French 'one; and Germany is supposed to hesitate only in hope of embroiling France. The idea of demanding immediate evacua- tion is therefore given up, and the journals content themselves with statements that the British authorities give away estates to their favourites, a meaningless libel. It is possible that the determination of Admiral Aube, the new Minister of Marine, to reform the French fleet, has something to do with this calmer tone. He wants 26,000,000 for fast cruisers and torpedo-boats, and to obtain them from the Chamber, it is necessary to show the inferiority of the French marine. The journals therefore declare that we are sixteen -fast cruisers ahead, and that in this state of affairs, the foreign .poliey of France cannot be free. The cruisers built, and out- stripped by the British Admiralty, the next French Minister of Marine will want gigantic ironelads, declaring that some British monster can destroy a whole fleet ; and so the costly game of rivalry goes on for ever. In the end, the maritime nation will beat the non-maritime nation on the sea.
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