The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-16
France. as One of Egypt's Bond
holders, Opposes 1t.
CLAIMS IT IS UNWARRANTED
And Refuses Consent to the Cost Be-
ing Charged to Egypt.
England Claims That q Majority OF
the Powers Favor tho Advance on
France The French Ambassador
Leaves London in q Hurry.

Copyrighted, 1896. by the Associated Press.
London. March i5.-The Associated Press
Is able TO state. in connection with the re-
opened Egyptian question. that the British
government consulted and obtained the ap-
proeal OF 4 majority OF the powers before
deciding upon the advance upon Dongola.
This makes the new Soudan campaign OF
far reaching political Importance in its
bearing upon Great Britain's relations with
the European powers. That the disclosures
by recent events of Great britain's COM
plete and friendless Isolation IN the COM
munity of nations has given a shock and
feeling OF uneasinsSs TO the responsible
craftsmanship ef Great Britain has been
frankly admitted by British statesmen
themselves. That England's diplomacy
has been busy with efforts to make some
inroads into the universal hostile array o.
nations has been generally understood.
When the terms of tho settlement of the
dispute over the boundaries between the
possessions on the Mekong. in indo-China,
OF Great Britain and France were made
known, the world expressed its wonder at
the substantial concessions made by Great
britain. and the opinion was generally
held that Great Britain sought 10 pro-
cure an entente with France as consid-
Grafton for these concessions. Many COM
mentators professed to see confirmation Of
this opinion in the suggestion offered by
the sultan little later to Lord Salisbury
that England should regllar.Ze the situa-
ton in Egypt. 1t was suggested that the
suitans suggestion was inspired by Great
Britain itself, in order 10 open up a course
Tor the evacuation of Egypt. thus relieving
the present cause of irritation between
Great Britain and France. The announce
ment OF the new Soudan Campaign is clear
and convincing evidence that there is 10
be no rapprochement between Great Bri-
tain and France. If further evidence were
needed of this. II will be seen n the 40
longed visit on Friday TO the foreign Office
of Baron De Courcel, the French am
bassador in London. and his subsequent
departure for Paris 10 impsrt the result OF
his Interview to the French cabinet.
Corroboration of Frances opposition TO
the proposed Soudan campaign is found in
the dispatch from Cairo, naming. as the
explicit grounds of her position, that 70
movement in the Soudan exists warrant
ing such a campaign, and that the khalfa
Abdullah. the successor of the late Mahdi
Mohammed Ahmed. the military chief un-
der him IN the former war. has lost all his
authority. and has withdrawn his loyal
adherents from the Kassala district
The advance upon Dongola was decided
upon by the British government with
view 10 the favorable effect 1t would have
upon the Italian situation in Abyssinia. as
was stated by the Times. the organ of the
BritiSh CABINET. IN connection WITH Its n
nouncement of the Soudan campaign. Al
most simultaneously with this annouce-
ment comes the news OF the visit of Count
Goluchowski. the Austro- Hungarian prime
minister to Berlin and the statement that
as a result the dreihund is to remain in
tact. and that the German governments
irritable attitude towards Great Britain. as
manifested over the Transvaal episode,
has been modified through the exertions of
Count Goluchowski.
The question of the honr in European
politics is whether Great Britain has
thrown in her fortunes with the drcihund
against France and Russia. The state
ment which has been promised for tomor-
row in the house of commons OF the pur-
pose of the proposed advance up the Nile.
by Mr.. George n. Curzon. the parliament
tary secretary of the foreign Office. Is
looked forward for with interest. in the
hope that II may disclose something If the
shifting of the international relations now
being adjusted in Europe.