M. Tirard and the French Department of Commerce have fidgeted
greatly over Lord Granville's and Sir Charles Dike's statements as to the Commercial Treaty between France and England, and the cause of the rupture of the negotiations. They deny that they had the legal power to renew the old treaty for three months, without a positive engagement on the part of England to come to terms for a new treaty ; but it is perfectly clear that, so far as legal power is concerned, they had ample power to do so, and that it is only upon M. Tirard's scruples as to the language he had held in the Chamber concerning the use he would make of that power, that any question really arises, M. Tirard seems to have thought that he should push England into a corner, by refusing to renew the present treaty for three months ; and he is a good deal frightened, now that he finds he has not succeeded in doing so. It is to be hoped that a treaty will be concluded, after all; indeed, in the worst case, France and England will probably conclude a treaty giving each other the advantage of the "favoured-nation clause," even though no other special provisions are included. M. Tirard, as Minister of Commerce, is not a success. He hardly seems to know whether he is a Protectionist or a Free-trader, or something between the two which is neither, and worse than either.
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