New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-29
FRENCH MOVES IN AFRICA.
A LIVELY DEBATE on THEM IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TEREsrs IN THE NILE VALLEY-slR Ed
WARD GREY STATES THE POLICY OF
THE GOVERNMENT SPEECHES
OF JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN
AND HENRY la
rOuCIiERE.
London. March 2S.-In the House OF commons
to-day sly Edward Grey, Under fofelSh scr"
tarv said that the Government haa receive" i"-
formation from the Niger Conpan! '"'' w"
-, r.5i,io,s had entered their territory.
H.. added that communications III r's"'N - '"'
,,,at,.r had bccn sent to the French Government
Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett. Conservative Tor
sheffield opencd an interesting debate in the
t1,,,so this evening on Great Britein's relations
, Franco in Africa. He moved a reduction Il
tho Foreign Office estimates for the purpose. II"
first directed the attention Of the House t. the
encroachments which the Government permitted
France to make upon Siam. In Africa France
was s;ill more active than in Asia, he said She
had sent ont an expedition which was menacin6
the Upper Nile and Selling African terri
tories recognized as beng within the British
/ sphere of influence.
Sir Edward Grey said that Great Britain stood
in such position - trust in Egypt as to make the
British and Egyptian spheres Of influence coNorth"
| whole Nile waterway The House ought To be
|
French expedition had been sent TO the Nile
country t. occupy the valley Of the river. Inc
| Foreign Office had no reason to suppose that any
French expedition had been instructed to enter
the Nile valley. or had the intention TO do SO.
lie could not believe ii possible in the face or the
! fact thai the British Governments views were
| fully known t. France. The advance "l d
| French expedition under secret orders from me
west side of Africa INFO territory subject TO h'''-
| ish claims whose rightfulness had been 50 long
known would be not only an inconsistent ana
unexpected act, bat also an unfriendy one ana
would be regarded as such by the Government
/ C'Hear liear.'D -
Without doubt African affairs for the last two
! years had caused considerable anxiety as to Whdt
| might happen in the future. During t1pSe cars
no prOvocation had been given t. france nom
the British side England had strivcn 90 the ~
most to reconcile the occasionel coniilc's o' III
tcrests. The Government would continue 10 PuI-
sue this line OF policy. emitting nothing Cd',"-
| lated TO maintain good relations WIN t. 80
and at the same time to uphold the Undoup''d
claims of Great Britain To mat end. oi ours . ;
the cooperation O fthe French FoNeIhhlchI "i''
I French public opinion was necessary. pul 'hlS
corporation ought to be obtained easily. lie re-
/ lied upon the sense If justice Charact"rlHlnE me
French Government and people & help reconcile
/ The conflicting interests of the Powers in parts
of the world which We're but little known
Joseph Chamberlain the Liborai-Unonist lead
/ er spoke Of Sir Edwards statement as the clear ,
/ est and most satisfactory d. -larau ~ E't h'aIi
on this subject from resp nsinlc representa-, :,
/ e The Government IL now saw. D" sall Na'
unless a clear understanding with France "s 10
African affairs could be reached he most ser! MS
| consequences might easily enSue. y" s'd'riN'". !.
I ought TO !eaVe Great Brtains claims On IElpt
beyond all misunderstandinG The whole Nc
valley from the lakes 10 the sea, was WitnlH
! oither the Egyptian or British sphere OF innu-
ence and that claim on Great Britans part had
been within the knowledge or franc" ,or HVe
wears. He assumed that the claim had never
been disputed by France. He must remind me
House. however that as recently as at me '"-
/ f,iuuinl, of this month me statement was mao"
IN .heckcd I'm the French chamber and ln thc
rrosance or the Minister of Foreign Anairs ina'
Frances object was always e. max" fnEiahd i'-.
that her presence in Egypt was h"rmini ana ~, ~.
France could come up with h"r iS.WH''' 'I'iI.
IN the Mediterranean. II tne French Government
did not accept such siatcnrnts IL '"HH' 'I
/ pud.ate them. France ought u %" an, su"l.I I,-
/ garding hor expedition T. the Me Na4'y. u ~
Uanrv I.abouchcre. the Radical leader. pro-
| ,lounced Sr Edward Groy's speerh In'nA." ''
France. con- Oh'D II" quite und"rsioo! mos
| cries of "Oh" on They came from IL" i"i y
members. who were delighted 10 find lln"i il
| Minister acting upon their principles. li'ii'
/ IIear"D This speech was a m"nac" On IN" ii'@
| Of tho familiar warning, Hands OF. 'ri'ii
members socmcd - imagine til MI" t" br aF
1n,,rb british property Ass tho Thames. lie for
one could not feel surpri'o that In view '' s'''
statements France was not friendly.
Sir Edward Grey denied that his statement hao
irnu,iol in any way m"nac" Z" franc, Hear
Hear The question of a general settlement
/ of fnplr respective interests III .flIl'h
~ 5issi,r ho,vceeu the two countries. TIE Brit
ish claim had been stated clearly.
80" Si. Ellis Ashrnead Bartlett sail that In view Of
the satisfactory reply made by the Goy"rnmeh
no withdrew his motion.
The Daily News" will say tomorrow:
Sir Edward Grcy's statement NJ ionbtedy was q
crave nnr II was tudcious and courteous, hl'
Derfectly firm We are certain France docs no
} ,,Dcdi,afe an unfrcnly act. We iulN TccoSill'
, tnr rirhts and she has not one thing OF which
she can fairly complain.
"Thc STANDARD" will warmly commend ih'
Governments declaration. Nothing in IN" state
mont could give umbragc" 1t VIII say, yet w
feeI SIRE that the sinCuarly deliberate and plair
, terrns Of assertion VIII not Be received with com
posure in Paris"