The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-03
DOES IT MEAN WAR?
English Cabinet Council is
Hastily Called Together
1t is Thought to Mean Serious
Difficulty With France.
OVER MADAGASCAR.
England and France Have Been
Rivals There Some Time.
France Now Orders All the
Islands Ports BlOckaded.
London is Filled With Sensa-
tionaI War RnmOrs.

tiOnal War RumOrs.
AxrANANARIvo. Madagascar, Oct g.
A blockade OF the ports Of the island of
Madagascar has been proclaimed by
France. The resident general has gone
to Tamatave. He has been instructed TO
take measures to protect the colonists in
the event of war.
LONDON. Oct. 3.-All the afternoon pa
pers gravely discuss the hasty summon
ing Of a cabinet council ana it Is gener-
ally accepted as being connected with
some serious difficulty with France
The Globe says: "Today's news of the
blockade Of the island Of Madagascar
sets at rest all doubts as 70 the immediate
business of tomorrow's cabinet councils.
The ministers have decided upon
a reaolute course of action and the
public will await with anxiety the
news OF their decision. We want 40
panic, nor war fevers, but we need the
assurance that our interests will be prop
erly safe guarded and cur allies protect
ed.
..Tho French will find that we shall
have a word to say about the Madagascar
question before II is settled, and Lord
Rosebsry may rely upon the Unionists to
support him, Loyalty and heartily, in the
interests of the empire"
The Globe further expresses the belief
that the hurried calling Of the cabinet
council is due to disputes with France,
adding: ave believe that there is NO
ground for public alarm, or Bupiciou,
part Of England rights or shirk
any part Of her duties. Our strained re-
lations with France are not matter Of
days growth nor connected entirely with
Madagascar We have points Of con-
tact with the French throughout the
world, and each is possible OF having fOs-
tered irritation which easily becomes
strife. 1t is certain that tho tame way
in which we have allowed ourselves to
be OutWitted in the far east during the
last year and the manner in which we
have stood by while France partiuoned
our heritage in Siam, has done much tQ
persuade the more ignorant or hot headed
Frenchman that England is not SO very
terrible after ALL"
The Liberal organ. the Westminster
Gazette. handles the subject very tender
ly, and is evidently anxious not To excite
public opinion, and thereby embarrnss
the government.
On the other hand the Conservative
mouthpieces discuss the matter more
fearlesAy and warn France against en-
croaching upon British rights.
The Pail Mall Gazette says. "A crisis
which necessitates the convening Of
cabinet council, must be very sudden as
the ministers were disposed on their hol-
idays. 1t is quite possible hewever that
propositions have been made TO settle
the various differences. But while we
recognize the incident admits OF fav0ra-
BILE Interpretation. it ia idle to ignore the
fact that il is quite possible that the cab
met has been summoned to discuss
new and unexpected cause OF friction
with France"
The Pail Mall Gazette then refers To
the article printed today in the Politique
ColoniaIe Of Paris, which reflects the
views of the minister Of the colonies, M.
Delcasse, and which gives exclusive Of
the questions Of Egypt and Madagascar,
list Of eleven outstanding dildculties
between France and England, connected
with frontier and similar disputes in
various African colonies.
The Politiquc ColoniaIe, however,
says that many Of these have practically
been settled and that none Of them would
justify a rupture unless one country was
bent upon picking a quarrel with the
other, which the paper adds is not tho
case.
The Pail Mall Gazette in spite of this
says the article in Politique ColOniale D.
unfriendIy sto the verge Of discourteav."
which the French ministers intend 10
discuss the difficulties with England, we
may prepare for troublesome times we
do not wish to quarrel with France, bur
on the other hand we are indisp0sed tu
permit trespassing upon our unques-
toned rights. The bullying spirit which
tells Frenchmen that they have only TO
be brag and bluff enough to force Eng
land to surrender may easily lead TO that
belief. The Pail Mall Gazette then con-
tinues.
1.-THE Daily Chronicle says that war
between France and England must be
regarded as inconceivable madness.
France must be told courteously but
firmly that we have not the slightest de-
sire to attack or to provoke her, but that
IL attacked we shall defend ourselves Ne
the last extremity"
The above quotations from the leading
afternoon papers Of this city give q fair
idea of the drift of public opinion here
and the gravity OF the crisis which has
caused the calling Of a cabinet council
for tomorrow.