The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-24
Questions in Dispute Between France
and England.

ana England.
It has been officially affirmed by M. RIBoT
n the Chamber Of Deputies that the French
protest against the establishment Of Brit
ish protectorate over Zanzibar has led to
discussion OF all the matters In controversy
between France and England with view to
o general and definite settlement. He must
be O sanguine diplomatist who hopes for a
solution OF the complicated questions pend
lnR between the two countries which shall
b entirely satisfactory to France, but the
pressure brought upon Great Britain by the
agitation In Newfoundland may induce Lord
SALISBURY to make some CONCESSIONS which
hO would otherwise refuse.
There Ia, it Is well known, treaty in ex-
istenoe whereby England and France mu-
tually covenant that the independence Of
the Sultan of Zanzibar shall remain unim-
paired. This covenant has been broken by tho
Angio-German partition treaty. which places
Zanzibar under British protection. There
are two ways In which France might, II she
deemed Ii prudent. retSliate in kind. She
might abroRate certain Anglo French en-
Ragements, which are understood to have
bean made for the purpose Of assuring to
British subjects important rights In NADIA
Gssc9r. Notwithstanding the establish
ment Of French protectorate over
that island. Or, as the protector OF
the Tunlsiau Regency, she might refuse
TO consider as any longer binding tho
treaty formerly made between England and
the Bey, in virtue OF which British subjects
enjoy all the rights possessed by the most
favored nation, The effect OF this incon-
venient arrangement is that, although Tunls
is now looked upon by France as a part of
her own territory, British goods may enter
1t without paying any heavier duties than
are exaoted OF French products. This is, in
substance. as II we had to refrain from I'm
posing any duties on British goods imported
Into California, unless the same duties were
levied on similar goods brought from the
other States.
By Rbolishing the privileges now enjoyed
by Englishmen In Tunls and Madagascar
the French republic might adequately in
demnlfy itself, II the rupture OF the treaty
guaranteeing the sef-government OF Zanzl-
bar were the only grievance OF which 1t
complains. But the French Ministers also
maintain that the retention OF an English
army In Egypt is a fragrant violation OF
promises repeatedly made by the British
Foreign ONCE, and OF an international un-
derstanding. They insist that Lord SAILS
BURY should either commit the defence OF
the Nile valley to it's suZerain the Sultan,
or revert to the former system under which
French and English Commissioners exer-
cised Joint control over the Khedive's In
come and expenditure, Then, again, the
French Foreign ONCE contends that, as
matter OF international comfy, England
and Germany should not arrogate the
right OF dividing an immense tract
In East Africa without concedlng to
. great maritime power like France a
territorial equivalent In some other part OF
the Dark Continent. Tho particular section
Of Africa to which M. RIBoT desires that
England should recognize the exclusive
claim OF France Is the Algerian and Tunisian
HtnterLdnd that Is to say. the vast region
south OF tho Algerian and TunisiRn Sahara.
extending between the upper Niger and Lake
Tchad and including them. There Is still an
other point as to which France would like
an explicit understanding with England, IL
not reference OF the matter to European
conference. 1t Is suspected that the trans
fer OF the Congo Free State under the gulse
OF mortgage from King LEOPOLD II. to
Belgium Is preliminary to a transfer Of this
huge domain To Germany. France naturally
wishes TO obtain guarantee against such
trAnafOr, or the promise OF territorial COM
pepAAtion in some other quarter.
ItiS probable that but for the NeWiound-
land controversy Lord SALISBURY would