New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-08
ANOTHER AFRICAN ENTERPRISE.

Emin pacha has undertaken m0ment0uS en-
terprise, in going to visit the King OF Ruanda'
and it is prudent for the German Government
to disayow responsibility for him, until it knows
the result of his manoeuvres. There is now
complete and amicabe understanding between
Germany and England regarding the partition
of Africa This understanding covers however
only the general features of the situation. There
are many details which imperfect knowledge OF
the country has made it impossible to settle as
vet, and which may well be left for more
convenient season. With the perennial war
cloud in the Balkans particularly dark, the CHIEF
member of the Triple Alliance does not wish to
enter upon any controversy or open any pos
sby vexatious negotiations with the greatest
OF the outside Powers to which that Alliance
looks for more or less active sympathy. With
the European problem tending toward an acute
stage, the African problem must be held IN
allegiance.
Yet this expedition to Ruanda cannot go quite
unheeded No one imagines that IFS leader IS
going there as DR.. Emn, geologist botanist ana
bug-collector. The sturdy old gentleman has
laid his science away in innocuous desuetude
ever since that unpleasant incident at Zanzibar.
And he is going to Ruanda as Emin Pacha,
,older and statesman. He doubtless has in view
some treaty with the native king, probably with
a view to protectorate, or an extension OF some
sphere Of influence" And he could not have
selected spot where any such negotiations
would more seriously affect the relations OF the
great Powers in Africa, or be more potent in
settling the final details of African partition.
For Ruanda is to Africa what the Pamir is to
Asia, the meeting point OF three great empires.
It is a region of indefinite extent lying just
south of the Equator, and centrally trayersed
by the thirtieth meridian east from Greenwich.
II includes the southern shore Of the great AL
bert Edward Lake, the northern part OF which
was surveyed by Mr.. Stanley, and it extends
southwark to Urrnda, which is at the northern
extremity of Lake Tanganyika Within its
boundaries are the great Go Lake and the upper
waters of the Luru and Iowa rivers, impor-
tant tributaries of the Congo. The great nigh
way of commerce from the Zambes through
Lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika northward to the
Nile will more naturally and more conveniently
pass through Lakes Albert and Albert Edward
than through Lake Victoria and will thus in
clude the Ruszi River and pass through the heart
If Ruanda. Moreover. in Ruanda the Congo
State British Fast Africa and German East
Africa meet. The lines that divide them are
drawn or are to be drawn through this unex-
plored territory. How they will be drawn de-
pends greatly upon the influences that shall first
become dominant at the court Of Ruanda
Il is thus evident that Emns work in that
quarter is highly important, and yet is OF such
A character that Germany cannot assume re-
sponsibility for it, nor England offer serious OBJ
lection to it. He will doubtless be allowed to go
on as free lance until the great Powers have
leisure to take up the work of African partition
aoain. Then. if Emn shall have made treaties
in Ruanda and elsewhere of advantage to Ger
many that Power will readily discover that it
was all along responsible for him, and will in
sist upon eaping for itself the harvest he has
tod