We were never able to admire President Faure, who always
appeared to us a kind of glorified Lord Mayor possessed by excessive, and even dangerous, ambitions. He hoped to be made Dictator during a revolt. He had, however, some clear ideas, especially upon England. He could see no point at 'which the interests of the two countries clashed except Egypt, which again, he said, was not a French but a European question. He would not have France fight for it alone, and as to a coalition, " it is we who would pay the cost of a war on our coasts, our colonies, and our great fleet. If the coalition were conquered, we again should pay most of the damages. If the coalition were victorious, German industry, producing more cheaply than we do articles of an inferior quality, would be the chief gainer by the common victory." There is a large common-sense in that, as also in his proposal for the settlement of the New- foundla.nd question. He would give up all rights in New- foundland on payment of compensation to French fishermen, and would fortify Miquelon and St. Pierre, a process now forbidden by a clause in the Treaty of Utrecht, which Treaty he would treat as dead, both as regards those islands and Newfoundland. Incidentally, President Faure remarked that if ever there was a coalition against Great Britain the pretext would probably be Egypt.
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