New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-05
FRENCH INFL UENCE IN AFRICA
THE PARIS GOVERNMENT ATTACKED FOR
ITS POLICY.

ACCUSED OF YIELDING TOO MUCH TO ENGLAND
DISCUSSING THE NEW TARIFF BILL
Paris, Nov. 4.-The Chamber Of Deputies to-
dcy. after approving the formation of Superior
Labor Council debated the foreign estimates. NJ
dc 10 Fcrronays, Member. of the Right attacked
the Government for making convention to de-
limit the possessions of France aud England IN
Africa without having consulted Parliament on
the subject The convention. he said, was ver-
liable treaty, entailing accession OF territory.
France had given way on the points In dispute
and had practically abandoned Gambia. allowing
England the territory and assuring her the COM
merce of an immense region. French ships on tne
Gold Coast were subject to the visits OF british
agents and the payment of British customs dures.
II tho treaty had been submitted to the House IL
would have been rejected.
NJ. Ribot. Minister Of Foreign Affairs, contended
tt the convention related to territorial claims
and not to actual possessions Great Britain had
foregone many claims, and regarding Gambia, the
ratification of the convention by Parliament was
not necessary. as the treaty merely concerned the
limits Of influence of each power.
NJ. Lamarzelle. of the party of the Right. criti-
cised the Anglo German convention He said THAI
the advantages Great Britain accorded France as
a set-off to the acquisition Of Zanzibar were not
sufficient. II France had preserved her hold on
Egypt and had not agreed too soon to the con-
version Of the Egyptian debt she might have had
a share Of the territories that had been divided
between Great Britain and Germany.
NJ Rbot replied that the colonial expansion Of
France had unfortunately been impeded by con-
sdcratons Of home policy. In England, lie said,
Cabinets had succeeded each other ambitious to
transmit to their successors colonial heritage
which never diminished but always increased.
That was not so in France. But this timoa con-
vention allowed France to stop the advance Of
England along the Niger. France had obtained
free access 10 Lake Tchad which might become
the centre of a great trade, linked by French
caravan routes with the Sahara. In exchange for
her rights in Zanzibar. France had obtained from
Great Britain formal recognition Of the French
protectorate Of Madagascar-which was no small
gain. Resistance to the Egyptian conversion
scheme would not have prevented the agreement
between Great Britain and Germany, whereas. by
asserting to the conversion scheme France had
strengthened her position in Egypt . applause
ports that France had designs on Tripol
NJ. Ribot denied that there was any foundation
for the reports. lie said that Tripoi was
province Of Turkey. and that there was nothing
to justify aggression by France in that direction.
The Tariff Committee of the Chamber Of Depu-
ties to-day began general debate on the minimum
tariff proposals of the new Customs bill. Several
members expressed the opinion that the proposals
would be useless since they could always be mod
flied by the Chamber. The committee decided to
sit daily.
Commerce. and NJ. Devie, Minister of Agricul-
ture to request the committee of the Chamber OF
Deputies having in charge the consideration OF
the new Tariff bill to expedite its aoors in order
that the Chamber may debate the measure by the
forcment Of the new tariff in November, 1892.