New-York tribune., 1896-06-20
lord SALISBURY'S COUP.
r,ANp cEDEs THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
TO FRANCE
CONFIRMATION rs NOT YET KNOWN. But IT

-.,ai
r.rrrender TO Germany of the island of Helgo-
Wv. Wv IN the North Sea. in return for valuable
".,.,,al concessions on the east coast Of
" .., N Zanzibar. including the recognition Of
A,.,and OF Zanzibar as British protectorate
~'.r,,and was entirely useless TO England, ex-
D. tn the form OF a menace to Germany. For
W. ~. 1, commands the entrance TO the River
80. ndth IT'S great seaport Of Hamburg as
the approaches TO Bremen and TO the
.ornecting the North Sea with the Baltic
q, no commercial value whatsoever to
,.ra. was a source. not Of revenue. but Of ex-
' % the British exchequer. and would have
W. ..nngv difficult to hold IN the event Of
0e' 18th Germany, TO which II belongs geo.
x,..uv and ethnolog!cally. There was moth
e'"' 10 sained by It's retention and, on the
o.,,rv much 10 be earned by Its transfer TO
o'..,.ry IN the shape of the latter's friendship
". ,srr,tor!al concessions in the Dark Cont
rent
According 70 the private advices received from
,..so, lord Salisbury Is the OF once
-. srousing his phlegmatc countrymen from
..,,, ,s,hsrgv by the announcement that he has
x.,..a With the Government Of France an
.-...rent similar to that which he concluded
-, rrneror William six years ago. when he
,.., or Helgolani from the British Empire.
-.. time 4. IS the Channel islands that are 70
- and although their cession TO France is a
.,,sr of current gossip In official circles, the
.unansstjon which England is to receive IS still
.ruded in mystery. That It will be Of valu-
s.. character may be regarded as foregone
.r.uson. as John Bull is far too addicted to the
~.o,,and-greed to let anything go without re-
.tng a ouid pro quo Possibly It may take the
,n q. recognition by France of the English
,session Of Egypt which would enable Lord
sssburv TO transform the Land of the Nile from
de facto into lie Jure English dependency
IA nrotectorate It IS France that has hitherto
rnSituted the chief obstacle to this and that
,,s hesn thorn in the side Of the British Gov
.rnment as far Egypt is concerned just IN
the same WAY that Germany. until the Heligo-
sDd agreement formed an insuperable obstacle
10 the proclamation Of a British protectorate
over Zanzibar The transformation OF Egypt into
British dependency. occupying the same re
htion TO the British crown as the vassal States
ot India is stated in London to form part and
Parcel Of that policy which comprises the con-
quest now In progre IS Of the Soudan by Eng
land and the purchase by the same Power from
Portugal Of Delagoa Bay and Of the Portuguese
possessions along the East Coast of Africa. thus
enabling John Bull TO realize his magnificent
dream Of an unbroken strip OF British territory
extending all the way from Cape Town TO Alex
andria distance OF over 400 miles.
THE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEAL.
While there is likely TO be at first considerable
outcry raised in England when the news Of the
surrender TO France OF the Channel Islands be-
Vnes public especially the psr. of -tA"-"-~ho
disposed to attach Importance To old associ-
eons and who recall the IA I that this group OF
lands has belonged TO England since the days
.ihe Norman conquest. nearly A thousand years
go yet on sober reflection II will be found that
Lord Salisbury has been acting with extraordi-
nry perspicacity and statecraft in negotiating
els deal The Channel islands Qike Hegoland
4 times gone by) contribute nothing 70 the Brit
N exchequer are Of no commercial value TO
Ersland and under present circumstances would
h difficult for England to hold in case Of war
Nth Frarce. They are of no strategical I'M
pOtance 10 Great Britain except as menace 10
France In case Of connic; arising between the
arer and England They belong geographically
and ethnogolically to France. The people
sleak the French and not the English language; /;
even all official dealings are carried on In French.
coast commanding SO to speak, the great Bay
GSt Michael, that their possession by foreign
Power must be almost as great a source Of dan
ur. Of apprehension and Of irritation TO the ma
tonal sentiment Of France the occupation Of
Gibraltar by the English is 10 the people OF
spain.
These sentiments have been intensified In late
ltars by the purchase some time ago Of one Of
ne smaller islands Of the group by a Prussian
tobleman. Prince Blucher. who has established
here colony q Germans. Prince Butcher bears
sname that is execrated in France. for he owes
It's title and his rank 10 the services rendered
BY the celebrat ID Field Marshal Blucher VINO
played so prominent part in bringing about the
coTnfa OF the first Napoleon, and who, In the
var which terminated with the battle OF Water
100, distinguished himself by the harshness of
us Treatment of the conquered French. Indeed
"aa not the English and Russian allies Of Prus-
''a hterfered, ne would have reduced Paris TO
1'D' and surrendered that most delightful capi-
va 10 'he lust ani plunder Of his soldiery. The
07" '"a' The heir 10 his name and titles shouid
" established with number Of his countrymen
upOn an island that virtually forms part Of
Trance and that is within an easy row OF the
N'envh coast Is intoerable to the spirited Gauls,
~pVieHy When ii is taken into consideration
"a' the German Government. II there were any
'0spect OF war with France, would immedi-
'e'y take steps to increase Prince Bldchers
"'0ny by means Of reinforcements Of perfectly
A"ed and sp ,ndidly armed farmers, artisans
NJ agricultural laborers. to whom no official ex-
'Vuon could be taken during the continuance
sNace
AUSTIN LEES ISLAND.
%o What has happened with the island now
"sa by Prince Butcher might be at any mo-
@repeated in the case Of that possessed by
*n Lee and his American wife. were they
aake up their minds either to sell or lease 1t
sme subject OF the Emperor OF Germany. Mr..
~ Whose charming and golden-voiced Ameri-
80 nepmate bore the name Of Mrs. de Wolff
''our before she became his wife) is one OF the
''''e'arles Of the British Embassy at Paris, and,
4N1