XVI ' INTRODUCTION. 



mediation of the late Lord Granville, H.M. Minister for Foreign 

 Affairs, and the judicious diplomacy of the Marquis Tseng, 

 Ambassador to Europe for China, bases for peace were arrived at, 

 and, on the gth June, 1885, a Treaty of Peace was signed at 

 Pekin, by which France obtained absolute possession of Tonquin 

 and Annam, and, on the other hand, China agreed to recognise the 

 provisions of the Treaty of Hufe, 1884. 



The course of subsequent events from the signing of the Treaty 

 of Pekin in 1885, is referred to, the efforts of France for the 

 restoration of order, and the consolidation of her recent conquests ; 

 the succession of military expeditions, and of political missions, 

 the latter including that of Henri Brisson ; General-de-Courcy ; Paul 

 Bert ; and of M. Bihourd, a sad record of reverses and disasters, 

 which have cost France very dear, both in statesmen, soldiers, and 

 treasure. 



The four subjects in this volume having reference to the future, 

 that is to say, questions of Foreign Policy, and of international 

 relations, which have, and, also, must in the future, claim the serious 

 attention of governments, parliaments, and the people generally, 

 are, Newfoundland, Egypt, Militarism in Europe, and the necessity 

 of an International Tribunal for the pacific adjustment of national 

 differences. 



The chapter on Newfoundland, under the title of " The New- 

 foundland Fisheries Question, and Great Britain and France," deals 

 exhaustively with a controversy of considerable intricacy that has 

 recently harassed, and still troubles the Governments of England and 

 France, as well as of Newfoundland. Throughout the negotiations 

 of this vexed controversy, there are few intricate questions in our 

 Foreign Policy (if we now except Egypt, to which we shall 

 presently refer), which have lately come to the front, and 

 demanding the anxious consideration of the British Government, 

 wherein the Foreign and Colonial Ministers of Great Britain and 

 France have displayed greater patience, better temper, or that 

 deserve greater credit from all observers not biased by political 

 prejudice. 



Whichever Government has been in power, whether in England, 

 (a Liberal or Conservative Administration), or in France, whatever 

 its Republican character, it must be candidly admitted, that of 

 recent years under the former, through the excellent statesmanship 

 of the Earl of Derby, Lord Rosebery, the Marquis of SaUsbury, and 



