The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-27
THE PARTITION OF AFRICA.
A Remarkable Division that Is Now
Almost Completed.


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
very complicated aspect in the Dark Con-
tinent, and the rival powers were all at
sea as to who owned certain territories
within it's limits. Accordingly the diplo-
mats held a series of meetings at Berlin,
Paris and Vienna, and the result has be-
come famous under the name of the Par
tition of Africa
The partition was very unlucky. 1t led
to no end of disagreement. That disagree
ment has now reached an acute stage In
this row over the Transyaal. No one has
alluded to the fact that all the powers
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, II was finally
agreed that the republic should be recog-
nized as an Independent power. but that its
foreign relations should be entirely under
the control of Great Britain. In return
for this Portugal was permitted to acquire
possession of large slice of coast terri
tory in the eastern part of Africa.
1t was a very unfortunate bargain. Il
is the cause OF all the trouble today be-
tween Germany and Great Britain. Ger
many claims that Great Britain has not
kept faith with II. because it has adj
vanced money TO Portugal somebody is
always advancing money TO Portugal and
never getting 1t back AGAIN., with the dis
tinct understanding that Portugal should
place her territory in Africa at the dis
posal of Great Britain. 1t Will be remem-
bered that the king of Portugal was lately
IN London on his usual errand Of borrow
ing money; and the violation OF the parti-
ton, TO use 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 congratuiation to
President Kruger; of course, II is impos-
sible to determine which side is right.
There is always the awkward ethical CO.
nundrum of the right Of the powers TO d.
vide 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 Harrar for its share OF Africa. and ev-
cry Italian army sent thither has been
soundly thrashed by the natives. Lohen-
glila gave the British some hard work.
but they downed him al last. Harrar has
been the ecene of some very bloody battles
OF late. and the theater of war Is now Abys-
sinia.
The net returns of the partition are a lot
OF boundary disputes and the creation OF a
fierce native African army scattered over
the continent in detachments. These de-
tachments are surreptitiously armed, II Is
claimed by agents OF the royal powers.
Thus Germany accuses Great Britain or
having secretly armed the blacks in Ger
man East Africa other powers make SIM
liar accusations against their neighbors.
The British South Africa Company has
become very prominent as n result OF this
outburst OF war feeling. This famous cor
porasion was chartered in 1883, and the
Duke Of Abencorn, X. G.. IS chairman OF IT,
Its deputy chairman IS the Duke Of Fife,
who married n daughter OF the Prince or
Wales. Cecil Rhodes is one OF the direct
ors. According to it's charter II may de-
veIop' the regions south OF the ZambeSt-
The first thing the company did was 10 fght
Lobengula. king OF the Matsoeles Tho
Cou1pany's troops next pi1s1e-l on 10 Aouht
Hampden and built the town OF salisbury,
named after the British premier. This place
Is now the capital or Aash0Ta and Suisse
ouen,ly the company began operations
north OF the Zamhezi. and today its terri
tories cover the whole OF British south
Africa. This territory within the bounda-
ries stipulated by the famous partition
covers an area OF 550, 90 square miles Inefo
are row nearly 49eo9 gold mining claims
established IA the region The precious
metal is said 10 abound
So much for the present condition OF
things II All grows out OF the partition OF
Africa That remarkable performance Is
today the most important agree ulent III
diplomacy. and certainly the most famous
concert ever entered frto by civislzed IA
lions since the Middle Ages. Il seems 10 ne
going 10 pieces. and 20 BE creating a gen
eval European sulash-tp. But to the dip!o-
mats It is what BIenhelm was 10 Mari
bcrcueh-a famous victory.