Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-29
The Sensation Of the Day in Lon
don.
ENCROACHMENTS ON THE NIGER
Damages for the Loss Of the VAL
kyrie.
GENERAL FOREIGN TOPICS

Ietary OF the foreign once, MADE IN the
house of commons last night, saying that
an advance of the French into the terri
terry of the upper Nile valley, belonging to
the Royal Niger Company, and therefore
under British protection, would be an I'M
friendly act, and that it was well known
to France that Great Britain would so re-
gard it, is causing a profound sensation
here and on the continent. Sir Edwards
announc enlent, which was read from notes
believed to have been written by the sec
rotary of state for foreign affairs, the Earl
of Kimberly, is looked upon as revealing
the extremely critical relations now exist
ing between France and Great Britain.
The fact that the statement was prepared
in writing beforehand emphasizes the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation and shows that
every word embodieS the views of the cab
met.
In brief, the statement is that it is prov
ing daily more difficult to live good
terms with France: that Great Britain has
made concession after concession in the
past two years in the interests of peace
but that the end has now come; that it is
found necessary to warn France from the
ministerial bench.
The most important and significant por-
ton of Sir Edward Grey'S statement was
own efforts is necessary, and that is the
cooperation of the French government and
the French people,
Mr.. Labouchere interpreted the prevailing
feeling of the members as to the ministerial
Statements as a menace to France and
o'iaSi declaration of war, and it is felt
that such tone would not be adopted by
the government unless milder representa-
lions had failed of the desired effect.
Borgu is the object of the contention be-
tween the two powers, and the control of
this region is regarded in England as
matter of very great importance. Borgu
Il, ct tod Of ha
river Niger. to the northwest of the Brit
ish colony of Lagos. The latter is the
most nourishng West African colony Of
England, and the English are anxious that
the French shall not be permitted to hem
it in to the coast, as they have succeeded
in doing III the case of Gambia, Sierra
Leone and the Gold Coast"
The Anglo-French agreement of 1880 put
Borgu under British protection. Since then
the French have conquered Dahomey and
have extended their African domain and
have disregarded the 1899 agreement. This
England resents.
Damages for the vnlkyric.
The court of appeals has reversed the de-
cision of the admiralty court in the case
of Valkyrie H. and Satanita for damages
resulting from the sinking of the former
by the latter on July s. 1884, on the first
day of the Mudhook Yacht Club regatta
in the Clyde. just previous to the start in
which event Britannia scored her first vic
tory over Vigiant Lord Dunraven is
only the nominal plaintiff in the suit, which
is really brought by the underwriters. The
court of appeals has now awarded Lord
Dunraven 5000 damages, holding that
under the regatta rules a contract was
created between the yacht owners which
took the race out of the merchant shipping
act. The admiralty court, it will be re-
membered, limited the damages to fS per
ton or total of ESP. The owner of Sata-
nita. Mr.. A. u. Clarke, will now appeal
to the house of lords.
The Venezuelan boundary.
No communications have been exchanged
recently between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela on the frontier question. Great
Britain has given no assurances that there
will be no further trespassing Vene-
zuelan territory, as stated in any dispatch.
Great Britain will recognize only the
Schemburg line as the frontier.
BerinE Sea Regulations.
In regard to the published statement
that Canada has urged Great Britain not
to further paralyze British industry by
asserting to the enforcement of the Boring
sea regulations of 1898, it is officially learn
ed that whatever Canada may desire the
decision of the Paris arbitration Will be
strictly adhered to during the ensuing sea-
son, and any side issue will not be allowed
to affect that decision.
The Grand National SteepIechase.
In spite of the scratching of Mr.. C. G.
Duff's Cloister and the bad weather pre-
vailing, great crowds of people assembled
today at Aintree, near Liverpool, to wit
ness the grand national steeplechase. The
grand national steeplechase was for $3.50
sovereigns, inclusive of a trophy valued al
100 soVereiSns, second horse to receive 800
soVereigns and third horse to receive 200
sovereigns from the stakes; handicap for
four-year-olds and upwards; grand ma
tional course, about four miles and S5G
yards. Mr.. John Widger's aged chestnut
gelding Wild Man from Borneo, by Decider
out of Wild Duck, was first; Mr. Il. B. At
XII sons Cathal, six years old bay geld
ing, by Casscck or Hominy, out Of Daft
fooil, was second, and Major A. Crawley's
Vanderberg, aged, bay gelding, by Dutch
Skater, out of Yurata, was third Nineteen
horses ran.
The Outrages in Armenia.
The Earl of Kimberly, secretary of state
for foreign affairs, in receiving a deputa-
ton from the Armenian Association to-
day expressed warm sympathy with the
objects of the association, and said that
the government was doing it's best to make
the inquiry into the outrages in Armenia
as thorough and searching as possible
He added that Independent reports would
be made by the European representatives
The main object in view was to secure in
the future protection for the lives, prop
erty, creed and lands of the Armenian
Christians. In this object he was glad 10
say that Great Britain had the cooperation
of France and Russia, both of which coun-
tries were convinced of the necessity of
reform. One of the chief problems is how
to bring about the results desired without
raising in an acute firm the eastern ques-
ton. He thought then time opportune for
dealing with the matter in such fashion
as to avoid danger. When the time came
for action the government would not be
found wanting. In conclusion, the Earl
of Kimberly said that the government was
irretrevably pledged to take steps to bring
about reform in Armenia.
General Foreign Topics.
90