SLSL, 'UtR' Who won?

[Paul Mackin]

On Sun, 2003-02-23 at 20:10, Mutualcode at aol.com wrote:

> > Interesting to think of this century-ago example of British/French
> > rivalry in comparison to the present day one. Chirac vs Blair. This time
> > the Brits (government at least) want war and the French don't. The U.S;
> > is a completely new factor in the equation. However can European rivalry
> > be a factor as well?
> > 
> 
> If I had to pick a character that most resembles the U.S. it would
> be Victoria: "rapt," "eyes glowing," "all tender and winsome for her
> sphinx." 
> > 
> > 
> > I've generally felt this was P's best short story. More accomplished and
> > adult sounding that the others. Was it the only one of them worthy of an
> > upgrade into a  novel? Part of a novel?


This would be the U.S. of the present, not of a hundred years ago I
guess..

It's been a long time since European rivalry has focused on the
territorial division of Africa. Now it's over who has more influence
with the U.S. France thinks it can do better as a dutch uncle (not
afraid to object to wrong U.S. moves) than as a sycophant as Britain
tends to be seen as.. Whether its recent stance is working very well
seems to be in some doubt but time will tell.

An important rivalry between nations is in the world opinion war.
African opinion and opinion in the Arab/Muslin world is where France is
presently doing far than Britain   

P.