The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-14
ON THE NPPEK NILE.
Details lie pectine the Rival Claims o
England md Frnnce In Tint I.e ion.

The most important part Of the DIFF
fcronccs which have recently assumed
4 pronounced form between England and
France I'm regard to Africa is that
which relates to the sphere Of Influence
claimed by England on the Upper Nile.
Speaking In the House Of Commons. on
March 18th. Sir Edward Grey, Under
Foreign Secretary. said that Great Bri-
tain stOod in such position Of trust in
Egypt as 10 make the British and
Egyptian spheres Of influence cover the
whole Nile waterway. He added that the
advance Of a French expedition from
the west into territory subject TO British
claims would be regarded by the gov
eminent as an unfriendly act. The OK
tent OF the sphere 10 which Sir Edward
Cray referred. from the various arrange
mentS which have been come to be
tween Great Britain. Germany. Italy, and
Zanzibar. and also with the Congo Free
state dating from 1856 down TO 1894, ac-
cording to the ARRANGEMENTS VITA Ger
many i'm 1890 and Italy i'm 1891 the whole
Of the region watered by the western
tributaries of the Nile. including not only
the Equatorial province and the Bahr-el-
Cnarial but "A large portion Of Ddrfur.
are recognized as within the BRUSH
sphere. On the east this sphere extends
along the river Jub, up the western Dor
der Of Abyssinia. leaving broad belt
bank Of :he Nile.
So far effective occupation by Great
Britain has not extended beyond the
Albert Nyanza. The region between the
east coast and Uganda and Uganda itseif
NAV be said TO have been taken effective
possession Of. After fashion, also. Eng
land Is looking after Dnyoro ana the
country between Albert Nyanza and Lake
Albert Edward. a year or so ago Major
ia
as far * Wadelai, where he planted the
British nag But AS far as is known that
is the utmost extent TO which there has
been any approach 10 occupation on the
Upper Nile.
England has retained strip on the
west shore Of the Albert Nyanza, but the
King Of the Belgians has been allowed
by France to retain as England's lessee
a solid block of territory extending from
he northwest corner of the lake TO be
vond Lado, on the ME- and stretch
ing westward for about two hundred
miles. This block is only a fragment OF
the larger area leased by Lord Rose
bery's government TO the KING OF the
Belgians. which included a large portion
| of the Bahr-el-GhaZel province. Ihe iact
| of this arrangement having beeh Haue
| between England and the King Of Inc
Belgians is held to imply that on poth
| territory.
France. however. has never acquiesced
| on this point. She has declared that she
| WAS no party 10 the arrangements maze
| between Great Britain and the other
| three powers Those who represent the
active colonial party in France have de-
| clared that at the proper moment they
would disregard the limits assigned 10 the
British sphere by other powers and take
/ "a "A
| stem which could only be prevented 10y
| effective occupation on the part OF Eng
land. IL is known that for something
! Tx. three wears a large French force mas
/ been gathered in the middle Moban2i re
eion waiting the arrival OF Colonel Mon
| tell to lead it westward ana northWard
| toward the Upper Nile region Colonel
| Monteil Was diverted to the ivory coast
| to deal with the refractory SamoTy.
| But there Is good reason TO believe
| that the absence Of Colonel Monteil has
| not prevented the large force referred 10
] from proceeding 10 accomplish the OBJ
| iect for which IL was collected. II Is said
| 10 have started some eight months ago
| and at the present moment II may Dc
] within hail of the Nile. France ana 'he
| King Of the Belgians are row e. the
| r,ost friendly terms. and If the French
| force nroceeds, as is likely, into mat
! norton of the British sphere which ms
| been leased 10 the Congo Free state u
| viii doubtless meet with friendly re-
certion and be able 10 use that territory
| as a basis fof operations further hoIul
| along the Upper Nile. The authorities OF
| the CONGO Free State meanwhile are not
| idle. orders have been sent out from
| beadouarters to establish training camps
| for 40 900 men. and it is contemplated, l
| have the best of reasons fer believing,
| 10 send one Of the most distinguished
| omcers Of the Free state 10 carry on
onerations in the region which abuts on
the Upper Nile D.,
| II Is. therefore. clear that Great Brit
| tst,,s naner rights are In fair way
of being overridden by effective oceupa-
tlon on the part of France. whose avo"ed
| object Is 10 have an unbroken line OF
tarr,,orv from the Red Sea 10 Senegal.
,rhis Is the circumstance which has lent
so much piquancy to Sir Edward Grey
recent decided utterance on the subject
of England's sphere OF influence or the
inner Nile. and to NJ. Hanotauxs reply
nnbllshed I'm the foregoing Dispatch