The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-04

States consul is an Ex-Governor OF Ala
bama. He was appointed a year ago. but
up 10 the present time his consular once
has not been recognized, owing TO the con-
fIct between the Hovas and the French
government. IL has brought about endless
correspondence between the French govern
ment and the State Department Ine pres
ent movement of France is taken TO indi-
cate that she Is tired Of temporlzlng ana
intends to force her contention 10 a mar
settlement. Private advices received here
are TO the effect that the closing OF the
Madagascar ports viii be followed by the
landing of two thousand French soldiers IN
Diplomatic circles here are watching the
French-English contention over Madagas-
car as possibly foreshadowing a conflict
for supremacy in Africa and the establish
ment there of an empire similar to the Brit
izh empire in India a member OF the diplo-
matte corps pointed out recent Slgnllcant
action indicating the basis OF this belief
Last May Great Britain entered into a Sc
cret alliance by which it secured control
over the Congo Free State in the heart of
Africa. The arrangement was made at
Brussels with the King of Belgium, who
has been instrumental in exploring ana de-
veloping the Congo country. With this &C
QUESTION Great Britain secured the middle
link between her colonies in the south Of
In effect it established Great Britain as
supreme from the Mediterranean to the
Cape OF Good Hope. This belt of country
extended north and south through the mid
die Of Africa, except along a short stretch
OF the lower Nile. and the portions of the
river within British dominion could De so
affected by dams. etc, that the entire route
of the stream could be controlled by the
British. The result OF the Brussels arrange
fears in france that the British empire
In Africa was about to be accomplished in
the same quiet way that the British domin-
fon in Asia had been effected.
France Immediately entered a pro-
test against the Brussels arrangement
and vas supported in the pro-
test by Germany. These two countries
had small possessions In Africa, including
the Island of Madagascar, which threat
ened to be dwarfed and commercially OBJ
liberated if England had the center Of
Africa from the Red sea to the southernmost
extremity. The French protest was so Wig
orous that Great Britain yielded and the
Brussels arrangement was vacated. The
trail. The incident served, however, TO
arouse france to the necessity OF strength
ening her hold on African soil If she hoped
to head off England's purpose of securing
commercial control Of the country by es-
tablishing an English belt from north to
south. 1t was only four month ago that the
British arrangement at Brussels was eff
fected, and IL is within the last few weeks
that the French protest caused 1t to be
vacated. Now comes the French move In
Madagascar, which has caused such agita-
1t is not, says this diplomat, any mere
the larger contention between Great Britain
and France for commercial control and po-
litical empire over Africa. For this reason
the present contest is regarded as affecting
not only Madagascar, but the future of the
dark continent.