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• 1 media/Thumb 173.png 2024-12-24T10:27:11-05:00 Peace in Dahomey 12 Criticisms of war and peace in Dahomey plain 2024-12-28T10:54:25-05:00 At three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Admiral de Cuverville telegraphed the Minister of the Navy to inform him that peace has been concluded with the king of Dahomey. The blockade is lifted; the arrangement, which was signed subject to the approval of the French government, stipulates that the possession of Kotounou and the protectorate of Porto-Novo will henceforth be respected and all previous treaties will remain in effect.
  
  Since the return of the members, the government will propose the ratification of the treaty, which was only inspired by the instructions [illegible] of the commander in chief.
  
  The events gave reason to the Minister of the Navy, Mr. Barbey, who constantly sent instructions to Admiral de Cuveverville tending toward a peaceful conclusion, and who, also recently, telegraphed him, saying: "No blood spilled uselessly; patiently wait to arrive at an arrangement that conforms to the dignity of the French flag and to the wishes of Parliament."
  
  The newspaper La Lanterne, twice named, that shines by its scepticism—and also by other things, no doubt, since that would not be enough to keep it burning—said about this peace:

  From the moment that peace was concluded, we've been at war.
  
  It seems that according to the terms set in the Constitution, the government of the Republic cannot declare war without the prior consent of the two Chambers.
  
  One may have some doubts if one refers to the decree recently issued by M. de Cuvevrville to prohibit, in Dahomey, the sending of all private dispatches not bearing his initials.
  
  Such measures are more in keeping with war than with peace.
  
  Before congratulating ourselves for the pacification of Dahomey, we should wait for this problematic peace treaty to be presented to the Chambers.

  Le Figaro also expressed its astonishment at this declaration of war made without the approval of the Chambers, and the treaty mission that was confided to an unofficial, Father Dogère. This newspaper says conclusively:

  The moral of this story is that you can always stop before going on a colonial expedition and that if it were not for a few people who shouted their heads off against all expeditions, we we currently have a war in a country that we declare swampy, harmful and useless, but that six months earlier, when we wanted to launch the expedition, was healthy, fertile and  necessary.

  And it is thus that have always been launched—for the love of colonial glory—expeditions that cost hundred of millions and thousands of human lives!
  
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