The first Tunis Blue-book reaches us too late for notice,
but it is evident from the despatches that Lord Salisbury did in- form the French Government that it was at liberty to take Tunis. On July 26th, 1878, M. Waddington informed the French Ambassador in. London that at Berlin Lord Salisbury Said to him, " Do at Tunis what you think proper. England will offer no opposition, and will respect your decision." In a letter to Lord Lyons, of August 7th, Lord. Salisbury being made acquainted with this dispatch, informs the British Ambassador that, " without being able to confirm the exact phrases attributed to him, he has great pleasure in bearing witness to the general accuracy of M. Waddington's recollections." The British Govern- ment would not alter its attitude, if the Government of the Bey fell, but could not answer for Italy. We do not see, after that, what more there is to be said. The British Government vir- tually gave the French Government carte blanche in Tunis. Lord Granville, also, in June, 1880, when questioned on the subject, stated that although Tunis was part of Turkey, and Britain had " no moral or international right to dispose of it," " her Majesty's Government had no jealousy of the influence which France, from her greater power and high civilisation, exercised, and was likely to exercise, over Tunis."
