The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-19
THE PARTITION OF AFRICA
THIS is THE MOST FAMOUS TRIUMPH
OF MODERN DIPLOMACY.
Cause of All the War TaII1-It May
Set Germany. and Great Britain
Fighting FuriOusIy.
Copyright 1896.


Set Germany and Great Britain
Fighting FuriOusIy.
Copyright 1896.
New York, jan 18.-In recent years the
powers of Europe found it to their mutual
interest to come together and reach an
agreement on the subject of Africa
Things had assumed a very complicated
aspect in the dark continent and the rival
powers were all at sea as to who owned
certain territories within it's limits. Ac-
cordingly the diplomats held series Of
meetings at Berlin, Paris and Vienna,
and the result has become famous under
the name of the partition of Africa.
The partition was very unluclxy. 1t led
10 no end of disagreement. That disa-
greement has now reached an acute stage
in this row over the Transvaal. No one
has alluded to the fact that ali the pow
ers concerned in the partition, namely,
Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy,
Spain and Portugal claimed dominion over
the rich little strip of country known as
the South African republic. 1t was final
ly agreed that the republic should be
recognized as an Independent power, but
that its foreign relations should be en-
tirely under the control Of Great Britain.
In return for this, Portugal was permit
ted TO acquire possession of large slice
of coast territory in the eastern part of
Africa.
1t was a very unfortunate bargain. It is
the cause of all the trouble to-day be-
tween Germany and Great Britain. Ger
many claims that Great Britain has not
kept faith with it, because It has advanced
money to Portugal somebody is always
advancing money to Portugal and never
getting it back AGAIN., with the distinct
understanding that Portugal should place
her territory in Africa at the disposal of
Great Britain. 1t will be remembered that
the King of Portugal was lately in Lon
don in his usual errand of borrowing mon
ey; and the violation of the partition to
luSe the diplomatic term is alleged to have
been then consummated.
Now, the violation of the partition is
Emperor Williams excuse for having sent
his famous message of congratulation to
President Kruger; of course, it is impossi-
BILE to determine which side is right There
is always the awkward ethical conundrum
of the right of the powers to divide Africa
up among themselves anyhow.
OF all the powers Italy has had the
worst luck. By the terms of the partition,
each country was at liberty to obtain pos
session of its African territories by con-
quest They all conquered except Italy.
That unfortunate country got AbySSinia
and Harar for it's share of Africa, and
every Italian army sent thither have been
soundly thrashed by the natives. Loben-
gula gave the British some hard work,
but they downed him at last. Harar has
been the scene of some very bloody bat
ties of late and the theater Of war is now
The net results of the partition are
ton of a fierce native African army scat
tered over the continent in detachments.
These attachments are surreptiuously
armed, ii is claimed, by agents of the
royal powers. Thus Germany accuses
Great Britain of having secretly armed
the blacks in German East Africa. Other
powers make similar accusations against
their neighborS.
The British South Africa Company has
become very prominent, as a result of
this outburst of war feeling. This ia
nous corporation was chartered in 1889,
and the Duke of Abercorn, K. G., is chair
man of it. Its deputy chairman Is the
Duke of Fife, who married a daughter
of the Prince of Wales. Cecil Rhodes is
one Of the directors. According to its
south of the Zambesi. The first thing the
company did was to fight Lobengula, king
of the Matabeles. The companys tiU0rs
next pushed on to Mount Hampton and
the British premier. This place is now
the capital of Mashonaland. Subsequent
Of the Zambesi and to-day its territories
cover the whole of British South Africa.
This territory within the boundaries Stip-
uIated by the famous partition, covers
an area of 10000 square miles. There
are now nearly 10000 gold mining claims
established in the region. The precious
metal is said to abound.
The south Africa republic was first
founded in 1870, but was not recognized
as free and Independent state until 1854.
But In 1880 the little republic had actual
Iy a war with Great Britain, and, strange
as it may seem, it forced that country to
submit by thrashing British troops. Jo-
hannesburg, the town which figured so
prominently in the recent war dispatches,
has population of 10000. The capital, Pre-
toria, has $500 inhabitants. President
kruger has served three times in his
present office. He will be 20 years old
next October. He has ten grown chill
dren. The Transvaal is rich in gold.
So much for the present condition of
things. 1t all grows out of the partition
of Africa. That remarkable performance
is to-day the most important agreement
NOUS concert ever entered into by civilized
nations since the middle ages. It seems
to be going to pieces, ana to be creating,
diplomats it is what Blenheim was to
Marlborough famous victory.