Baron D'Estournelles de Constant, the well-known Member of the French
Senate, has addressed a vigorous letter to M. Thomson, the French Minister of Marine. He protests against the campaign of extravagant expenditure on battle- ships conducted by the Department as calculated to weaken and dissipate the system of French national defence, the strength of which should be on land. "It is to the interest of France, while her coasts are defended by a fleet of rational size, to have an army ready to repulse an invasion on the Eastern frontier ; while Russia ought to have a good army ready to repulse aggression on her Western frontier, England concentrating her energies chiefly on her Fleet. This natural conception is unfortunately not to the taste of the Jingoes. The splendid and peaceable demonstrations in London have been followed by a bold Press campaign, and it now seems established that, contrary to common-sense, France must neglect her Army to build fleets, England must neglect her Fleet to raise armies, while Russia sacrifices everything to orders for ironclads." We cannot help thinking that Baron D'Estournelles de Constant takes an exaggerated view of the situation, but his warning is none the less valuable for its insistence on the true perspective in which the three countries ought to regard the question of national defence.
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