The official Russian utterances were unwearied in declaring that the visit of the fleet to Toulon was a peaceful demonstration, and in reiterating that absolutely nothing of an aggressive or provocative character could be related to the festivities in France. The French journals were constrained to print these assurances and the _Figaro_ hastened to add: “Of course! _Une manifestation essentiellement et exclusivement pacifique_”; besides, the French press, and especially the _Figaro_, would never in the world have upheld any other manifestation! But a few days later the same _Figaro_ proposed that during the Russian festivities “Les Danicheffs” should be performed in the Odéon Theater, “in which piece one passage would be certain to elicit storms of applause,—‘As long as there are Russians and Frenchmen and wild beasts, the Russians and French will stand in alliance against those wild beasts’”! The whole tone of a large part of the Parisian press during the period preceding the festivities was calculated to exacerbate hatred of Germany. After a time, however, the festivities took the form of peace assurances, and the gala performances in honor of the Russian guests ended with an apotheosis representing peace. At that time I received the following letter from Senator Marcoartu: Madrid (Senate), November 13, 1893 Dear Madam: While in Paris I witnessed the Franco-Russian demonstrations in favor of peace. This once more awoke in me the idea which I promulgated in 1876 in my English work, “Internationalism” (or the ten years’ truce of God). Herewith I send you the letter that I wrote to Jules Simon. It seems to me that the friends of peace, instead of falling asleep under the tent of arbitration, should now start an agitation in behalf of a ten years’ truce. The thing would be feasible and salutary. Another question of present moment to which I should like to call public attention is the neutralization of straits, isthmuses, and the like. On this point read the bulletin of the _Société d’économie politique_, Paris, 1892, p. 88, and in _Le Matin_ of October 29, 1893, the interview which an editor of that paper had with me during the Franco-Russian festivities. In cordial friendship, your very devoted Marcoartu Here is the letter to Jules Simon: Paris, October 29, 1893 Dear Sir: The congratulatory telegram from his Majesty the Emperor of Russia to the President of the French Republic, in which he declares his desire to coöperate in the confirmation of universal peace, has made such a vivid impression on me that I am addressing you with the following question: