The morning call., 1894-06-13
LATEST STRUGGLE in AFRICA.

Great Britain has recently made two
moves in Africa that have provoked an
earnest protest from France. Those two
natiOns have been competing sharply for
territorial acquisition. When France took
possession of Agiers it seemed for a time
as II this reduction OF Northern Africa
was more than offset by England's posses
sion OF the Cape of Good Hope and the ad-
jacent territory in South Africa. But
Great Britain soon began counter move
ments. The aim was to push territorial
extension north to Lake Albert NyaDza,
near the sources of the Nile. Gradually
the extension of territory was advanced 10
the Zambesi River and beyond. Butthere
was a great territory north of the river
chat England wanted. The plan was to
make the chain complete so that no rail-
road could cross Africa without crossing
British territory OF her sphere of infu-
enee."
Practically this has been accomplished
by the treaty which Great Britain has just
made with the King of the Belgians, who
is the sovereign Of the Free State of
Congo. A tract of country, including
Wadelai, up to Khartoum. and including
diSO ZIG IiCu plOfiuGt Va ORduud anu ali
that part of the Nile Valley that was aban-
doned by Egypt when Khartoum was cap
tured by the Mahdi, has fallen into the
nominal possession of Great Britain. The
treaty with the sovereign of Congo covers
a part Of this territory. At one time Ger
many was supposed to have some claim to
a part that was under the nominal rule
of Emin Pasha. But he professed to be
acting in the interest of Egypt and in his
early expeditions was supplied with money
by the KhediVe.
The Free State Of Congo exercised nomi-
nal sovereignty over an area of country in
the ReighbOrhood OF the lake region that
had never been actually brought into SUBJ
lection. Its boundaries were not accu-
rately defined. That was the danger line.
Great Britain was party to the establish
ment of the Free State of Congo The
State needed powerful neighbor to de-
fend it from the eneroachment of hostile
powers, as we'll as from the hostility of
powerful native tribes. France had no
claim TO the province of Uganda. Her flag
had never floated within hundreds of miles
of that territory. But just as she was
planning 10 push her outposts in that
l-uElduu luON6S UP anu JdkeS Tile
prize.
The Free State Of Congo has now planted
a powerful neighbor between her eastern
border and the Nile. This was done by a
treaty without consulting France. There
was a warm time in the French Chant Der
Of Deputies. When the protest reached
Lord Rosebery the reply in substance was
that England had made the treaty and in
tended TO execute it. No other power had
any right 10 interfere.
The Irritation of France is greater be-
cause England has possession of Lower
Egypt France has demanded that Eng
land should quit that country. The reply
has been in substance that the time has
net come to vacate; that financial reasons
render nominal possession still Imperative.
A French expedition was on the way to
plant the flag of France In the valley of
the Upper Nile when the treaty with the
King Of Belgium was consummated by
England. To add to the i'll feeling created
by these movements in Africa comes now
the prospect of quarrel over Morocco.
The death of the Sultan leaves an opening
for internal discussion. France has seized
TouRt, on the southeastern border of Mo-
rocco, apdis waiting the chance for further
encroachment. England does not want
French fortress al Tangier to dispute, with
Gibraltar, the control of the strait and
the water route to Egypt and India. Both
lsrties are preparing to be well repre-
sented by naval force in the Moroccan
waters.
England and France have other points
OF contact and disagreement - in New
toundland, Siam. etc. 1t is not i'm possible
that they may yet be set by the ears before
their disputes are settled.