The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-29
FRANCE MAY HAVE TO FIGHT.
GREAT BRITAIN GROWING OVER
HER COURSE IN AFRICA.

The New Republic Alleged 10 he
seizIng Territory I'm Africa Re-
earded as within the sphere of
British influence - Sir Edward
Grey ProcIafms That Any Invasion
of british Claims Would Be Re-
garded as an UnfrIendIy Act-Jo-
seph Chamberlain Also Talks OF
Serious Consequences.
London. March 2s-slr r. Ashmead
Bartlett. conservative member for Shelf
field. opened an interesting debate in the
House Of Commons this evening on Great
Britain's relations to France In Africa
He moved a reduction OF the foreign Of
fee estimates for the purpose. He first
directed the attention Of the House to
the encroachments which the government
had permitted France to make upon ST.
am. In Africa. France is still more active
than in Asia. he said. She had sent out
an expedition which was menacing the
Upper Nile and was SELLING African ter
ritories recognized as being within the
British sphere OF influence.
Sir Edward Grey. parliamentary sec
retary OF the foreign office. said Great
Britain stood In such a position Of trust
I'm Egpyt as 10 make the British and
Egyptian spheres Of influence cover the
whole Nile waterway. The House ought
TO be careful about giving credence 10 tho
rumors that French expedition had been
sent to the Nile country TO occupy tho
valley OF the river. The foreign Office had
no reason to suppose that any French eN-
pedition either had been instructed 70
TO enter the Nile valley, or had the tn-
tention to do 50. lie could not believe u
possible, In the face OF the fact that the
British governments views were fully
known TO France. The advance OF
French expedition under secret orders
from tine west side OF Africa into tho
territory subject to British claims, whose
rightfulness had been 80 long known,
would not only be an inconsistent and un-
expected act, but also an unfrlendly one.
and would be regarded as such by the
government. QIear, heard Without doubt
African affairs for the last few years
had caused considerable anxiety as TO
what might happen in the future. Dur
ing these years no provoceuon hao Deen
given France from the British. England
had striven TO the utmost 10 reconcile
the occasional conflicts Of interests. The
government would continue 70 pursue this
line OF policy omitting nothing calculat-
ed to maintain good relations with France
and at the same time 70 uphold the un-
doubted claims OF Great Britain. To
that end, OF course, the cooperation Of
the French government and French pub
lie opinion was necessary. He relied on
the sense OF justice characterizing the
French government and people TO help
reconcile the conflicting interests OF the
powers in parts of the world which were
but little known. (Cheers)
Joseph Chamberlain, the liberal union
ist leader, spoke Of Sir Edwards state-
ment as the clearest and most satisfactory
decIaration vet heard on this subject from
a responsible representative OF the gov
ernment He now saw, he said that un-
less a clear understanding with France as
to African affairs could be reached, the
most serious consequences might easily
ensue. The statement ought TO leave Great
Britains claims on Egypt beyond all mis-
understanding. The whole Nile valley
from the lakes 10 the sea, was within the
Egyptian or British sphere OF influence
and that claim on Great Britain's part had
been within the knowledge OF France for
five years. He assumed that the claim
had never been disputed by France. He
must remind the House, however, that as
recently as at the beginning OF this
month, the statement was made, uncheck-
ed in the French chamber and In the
presence of the minister Of foreign affairs
that Frances object was always TO make
England feel that her presence in Egypt
was harmful, and that France could come
up with her elsewhere than In the Medi-
terranean. II the French government did
not accept such statements, It ought to
repudiate them.
France ought to be questioned regarding
her expedition TO the Nile valley (Hear.
Hear.l
Henry Labouchere, the radical leader.
pronounced Sir Edward Grey's speech
a menace to France. (Oh, oh.) He quite
understood the cries of "oh, OH" They
came from the Tory members who were
delighted to find a liberal minister acting
upon their principles. (iear. Hear.) This
speech was menace on the lines of the
familiar warning hands Off" Certain
members seemed to imagine the Nile to
be as much British property as the
Thames. lie for one could not feel sur
prised that. in view of such statements.
France was not friendly.
Sir Edward Grey denied that his state-
ment had implied IN any way a menace
to France. (Hear. Hear). The ques-
ton Of a general settlement of their re-
spective interests in Africa was under
discussion between the two countries. The
British claims had been stated clearly.
Sir p. Ashmead Bartlett said that in
view Of the satisfactory reply made by
the government he withdrew his motion.