The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-04
IS WORRIED.
England Uneasy at the Pros
pect of a New Gibraltar.
france Making Crafty Moves Looking
Toward Cutting OFF Commerce.

WAsHINGToN, Oct. 4.--The state depart.
ncnt has been very fully advised from time
90 time by our representatives, abroad OF
theinecption and growth of the trouble be-
tween France and Great Britain relative TO
Madagascar. Efforts have also been made
at Intervals 20 induce our government TO
take sides in the matter, based on our
large commercial interests in the island,
for. surprising as it may seem TO persons
who know OF the existence of Madagascar
from the biographies, the United States
>ontrols three -tcnths of the trade of this
great island, which, in territorial area,
quite equals France
For years all Of this commerce has been
more OF less hampered in growth by a
standing dispute between France and the
Hovas government touching the recog-
| milton of consuls The French claim the
right under treaty to control all of the
/ foreign relations of Madagascar, and in
clude in their claim right 60 issue exc
quaturs 10 oonsuls. The Hovas govern
msnt held that the consuls' functions per-
tained only TO commerce and were not
connected with foreign relations. For
this reason it insisted upon controlling
their recognition.
Duhteb Oh Nohhuls tnttfiereu WIN.
Things came TO such a pass finally that
Il oonsuls had 20 be provided with dual
i credentials, and even then they were
/ sometimes not permitted TO exercise their
Il functions The United States has had
II much difficulty I'm this respect, and our
present consul at Tamatave is acting
n now under provisional and unsatisfactory
H arrangement
|/| The nrfffoh ard Co~,.,o.. L. :. a -.
h 1ished the claims OF France in this respect
\ and have indirectly sought 10 make the
h United States take the lead In repudiating
4 them, though so far without success, as
h our state department has steadily alb
n stained from interference.
N Aside from this question OF commerce,
\ always of Importance in British eyes. the
principal reason for British concern i'm
madagascar, as it is understood here, lies
IN the fear that France is about to estab-
1ish new Gibraltar in the Indian ocean
chat would in time of war give her the
power to totally cut off commerce between
india Australia. the Cape settlements and
England.
France Strengthening Madagascar.
Already the French have been busily
engaged In making fortress and naval
station at Diego Suariez, on the north
'UrD extremity of madagascar. Here is n
magnificent harbor, almost landlocked,
and even at present quite as impregnable
- Gibraltar itGelf Making this harbor
their base, few French cruisers might SO
guard the Indian sea as to make British
commerce impossible.
And the French arc reaching out. They
want more land around Diego Suariez TO
extend their Notifications, and they want
Fort Dauphin at the southern extremity
OF Madagascar and several points between
on the eastern and western coasts
The British believe that these fortiflca-
Mons seriously threaten their East African
posscssions, and they are disposed Co pro-
test, but they find themselves much ham
pered, for when Great Britain annexed
Zanzibar, lying to the west across Mozam-
bique channel, they did SO through an un-
derstanding with France that the latter
should have free hand to deal with Mad
ogascar
Diplomatic Circles Are Watching
ohe French English contention over NADIA
gascar as possibly foreshadowing a conflict |
tor supremacy in Africa and the estab-
lishmsnt there of an empire similar to tho
British empire In India.
N A member of the diplomatic corps points
out recent significant action indicating
the basis OF this belief. Last May Great
Britain entered into a secret alliance by
which it secured control over the Congo
Free State in the heart of Africa. The ar.
rangement was made at Brussels with the
King OF Belgium, who has been instru-
mental in exploring and developing the
Congo country
II With this acquisition, Great Britain So
cured the middle link between her COLONIES
~ the south OF Africa and those Of Egypt
on the north In effect, IL established
Great Britain as supreme from the Medi-
eerranean to the Cape OF Good Hope. This
belt Of country extended north and south
thrcugh the middle OF Africa, except along
= short stretch of the lower Nile, and as TO
This, English engineers reported that the
portions Of the river within British domin-
lon could be so affected that the entire
eo,ite of the stream could be controlled by
the British
The result OF the Brussels arrangement
was TO give hopes in England and fear,sn
France that the British empire of Africa
Was about TO be accomplished i'm the Same
quiet way that the British dominion in
Asia had been effected.
France on sbe Watch.
The incident has, however aroused
France TO the strengthening of her hold
Dn African soil If she hopes To head of G
England's purpose of securing CONNER
Dial control of the country by establish.
Ing an English belt from the north to the
south.
IL was only four months ago that the
British arrangement at Brussels was ef-
Iecfed, and IL il within the past few weeks
tAat the French protest caused it 20 be
xaca'ed' Now comes the French move i'm
=. =. nnsascar, which has caused such agita-
sion and talk of war i'm London and paris
IL Is not, says the diplomat. any mere
eontention over Madagascar. but a part of
the great contention between Great Brit.
Ann and France for commercial control ,
snd political empire over Africa. For this
reason the present contest is regarded as
snccting not only Madagascar but the
guture Of the Dark Continent.