Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-29
FRANCE IN AFRICA The Subject of a Hearty Discussion
 in the Commons. GREAT BRITAIN'S POSITION In the Dark Continent Clearly Stated-Chamberlain Sees
 Chance for Trouble.
GREAT BRITAIN'S POSITION

LONDON, March 2S.-Sir E. Ashmead Bartlett, conservative member for Sheffield, opened an interesting debate in the com mons this evening on Great Britain s rela- tions to France iu Africa. He moved a re- duction of the foreign office estimates for the purpose. He first directed the atten- tion of the house to the encroachments ts which the government permitted France to make upon Siam. In Africa France is still more active than in Asia, he said. She has sent out an expedition which was menace ing the upper Nile and was seizng African territories recognized as being within the British sphere of influence.
 Sir Edward Gray, parliamentary secre- tary of the foreign cffice, replied that Great Britain stood in such a position of trust in Egypt as 10 make the British and Egyptian spheres of influence cover the whole Nile waterway. The house ought to be careful about giving credence to the rumor that French expedition had been sent to the Nile country to occupy the valley of the river. The foreign office had no reason to suppose that any French expedition either had been instructed to enter the Nile val ley or had the inten tion to do 90. He could not believe it possible, in the lace of the fact that the British governments views were fully known to France. The advance of French expedition under secret orders from the west side of Africa into territory subject to British claims, whose rightful- ness had been so long known, would be not only an inconsistent and unexpected act, but also an unfriendly one and would be regarded as such by the government. [''Heari Hear!'l
 Without doubt African affairs for the last two years had caused considerable anxiety as to what might happen in the future. During those years no provocation had been given France from the British side. England had striven to the utmost to reconcile the occasional conflicts of in- terests. The government would continue to pursue this line of policy, emitting nothing calculated to maintain good rela- tions with France and at the same time to uphold the undoubted claims of Great Britain. To that end, of course, the CO., operation of the French government ard French public opinion was necessary. He relied on the sense of justice characterizing the French government and people to help to reconcile the conflicting interests of power in parts of the world which were but little known. Cheers.
 Joseph Chamberlain, the liDeral-unionist leader, spoke of Sir Edwards statement as the clearest and most satisfactory declara- tion yet heard on this subject from re- sponslble representative of the government. He now saw, he said, that unless 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 Britain 'a claims on Egypt beyond all m understand ing. The whole Nile valley, from the lakes to the sea, was within the Egyptian or British sphere of influence and these claims 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, unchecked, in the French chamber and in the presence of the mi mis- ter of foreign affairs that France's object was always to make England feel that her presence in Egypt was harmful, and that France could come up with her elsewhere than the Mediterranean. If the French government did not accept such statements it ought to repudiate them. France ought 10 be questioned regarding her expedition to the Nile valley. I"HearI Heario]
 Henry Laboucheree the radical leader, pronounced Sir Edward Grey's speech a menace to France. ["Oh," "Oh."1 He quite understood the cries of ''Oh, Oh. '' They came from Tory members who were delighted to find liberal minister acting upon their principles Hear, Hear.
 This speech was menace on the lines of the familiar warning, "Hands of.' Nile to be as much British property as the Thames. He for one could not feel sur prised, that in view of such statements, France was not friendly.
 Sir Henry Grey denied that his statement had implied in any way menace to France: ["Hear, hear.l The question of a general settlement of their respective interests in Africa was under discussion between the two countries. The British claims had been stated clearly.
 Sir Ashmead Bartlett stated that in view of the satisfactory reply made by the gov
 Spring is the time to purify the blood