It appears that General Boulanger is really to have his
sixteen millions, or something very like it, the Government having asked for a special military credit of £14,400,000. Of this large sum, the Finance Minister says he only wants £3,640,000 this year ; but M. de Sonbeyran, a great financier, contends in the Senate that 25,100,000 has already been spent, and that this is an addition. It would seem probable that the Minister at War, relying on the " patriotism " of the Deputies, is spending the money as fast as he can, borrowing it from different funds, and that it will be gradually replaced. The Public Works Budget has been reduced by £600,000, but the remainder of the money is to be obtained by increasing the Sugar-duties by 20 per cent., and by funding instead of paying off £3,000,000 of short Treasury Bonds. This is not precisely the policy of retrenchment on which the Chamber a few weeks ago seemed inclined to insist; but after Prince Bismarck's speech, even M. Clemencean will scarcely venture to resist. Nothing is refused to the Army in France, because, firstly, of the foreign danger, and because, secondly, of the danger that the Army, if refused anything, might take it, pleading patriotism.
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