The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-03-30
AND FRANCE.
Anoth 3r Controversy Anent Their
African Possessions.
THE SITUATION GROWS CRITICAL.

The French Minister Of Foreign AHairs
N wm on Thursday Next Reply to Per-
y tinent Statement Made in the British
House of Commons.
LONDON, March 80.-The statement which
Sir Edward Grey. parliamentary secretary
of the foreign afiice made in the house Of
4 commons, saying that an advance Of the
french into the territory of the Upper Nile
valley belonging to the Royal Niger com
pany, and, therefore, under British pro
lection, would be an unfriendly act and
that 1t was well known to France that
Great Britain would so regard 1t, is oaus-
Ing profound sensation here and on the
continent.
a, Sir Edwards announcement, which was
read from notes believed to have been
written by the secretary OF state for foreign
affairs the Earl of Kimberley, is looked
upon as revealing the extremely critical
relations now existing between France
and Great Britain. The fact that the state
. ment was prepared in writing beforehand
emphasizes the seriousness of the situa-
ton, and shows that every word embodies
the views of the cabinet.
In brief, the statement is that it is be-
coming daily more difficult to live on
good terms with France; that Great Brit
Y ain has made concession after concession
In the past two years In the interests of
peace; but that the end has now come, and
that 1t is found necessary to warn France
from the ministerial bench
The most important and significant por-
: tion of Sir Edward Grey's statement was
the following:
But something beside our own efforts
is necessary, and that is the cooperation
of the French government and the French
people"
The Royal Niger company, chartered by
the British government, has an empire in
Africa. 1t claims half million square
2 miles, stretching from the Guinea coast
far back into the Dark Continent. The
company not only carries on extensive
trade, but it provides all the machinery of
an elaborate government including a
strong military force Besides, it has the
privilege of calling on the British navy for
help.
Great Britain, Germany and France
agreed many years ago to divide up among
them large part of Guinea Britain took
the so-called Gold Coast, Germany the
Cameroons and France the Slave Coast.
Naturally the boundaries have never been
exactly defined, and there has been a deal
of friction, especially between France and
England. There have been sundry con-
ventions in regard TO border lines, result
Ing in the agreements of 1885, 1885, 1896
and 1888; but still the disputes go on in.
oreasing in bitterness
i The foreign departments of Britain and
\ France have had numerous knotty prob
lens before them in the last few months
and more than once an outbreak of hostil
titles has been feared. No subject has more
real danger in it at present for those two
countries than the subject of African pos
sessions.
PARTS, March 90.-On Thursday next
M. Hanotaux, minister of foreign affairs
will reply to an Interpolation in the cham
Der of deputies on the statement made in
the British house of commons by Sir Ed
ward Grey concerning the relations be
tween France and Great Britain.