The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-01
Piled WITH QUESTIONS.
n. Bourgeois Interrogated by thu
French Senate.
EGYPTIAN DEBT MATTER MENTIONED.
Russia Supports France-power Notified
Of the Possession Of Madagascar.
Natives Up In Arms.


said that after the decision of the Egyp-
ton debt commissioners to allow the re-
serve fund 10 be used for the purpose of
tho Britsh-Egyptian expedition up the
Nile. France entered into COMMUNICATION
on the subject with Great Britain and the
negotiations were still in progress on the
part Of France. France, he added, was
finnly supported By Russia in tias matter
ana their accord !lad never been moro
complete or cordial.
plain the scmi-oifcial note issued On
March 4 and purporting to explain that
the proposed advance up the Nile was
great surprise TO the gov crnnent ana
would serve to efnbitter the anti-Ensiish
feeling In France at a time whcn "A peter
entente was promised, adding mat Great
Britaip's explanation that tee advance
was MT necessary ia the Interest 81 Egypt
was viewed with skept.cism b. France,
NJ Bourgeois said tife note vas semi
onicias aud could not be discussed BY Che
ID snrdoux complained tina, the ex-
per elion of NJ. Bourgeois In regard 20
Eeypt we're Inadequate and asked II the
goYe.anent had any hone that Great
| Britain would iulfll her promises
TO this question NJ bourgeois replied
that the French government had IN no
way reccded from the attitude which
France had taken up toward Egypt, but,
he added. the government could not en-
tor into details at present, as negotiations
We're still in progress on the subject Win
Great Britain The matter was then
dropped.
NJ. Bourgeois finally madc statement
In reply to a long attack upln the gov
erament's policy, made by Senator Bar
doux, who coniended thai NJ. bourgeois
! had DESTROYED the sp!endii rosition "hlsn
France had gained abroad caring the
touufe of office OF the last govetnncnt
NJ. Bourgeois, he commended, had tlnnEle9
IN Egypt. Madagascar and China and
the senator pointed out particularly that
the opening of the West river 10 Euro
of the French railway from Langson TO
| he frontier; that the Chinese loan had
| heen obtained by Great Britain and also
referred TO the fact that sir Robert Hart
an Englishman. was at the head OF the
customs service
The statement Of NJ. Bourgeois was in
the form OF following answers to the sew
| eial questions put 10 him by NJ. Bardoux
"Is il true that Sir Robert has been APP
pointed postmaster general In addition to
his post Of Inspector general of customs
By the Chinese government?'
NJ bourgeois said he had RI ceived no Of
| fical notice of ouch appointment, out me
senate might be assured that should chi
ma beside to appoint, IN a large measure,
| foreigners as agents OF the organization
Of internal ADMINISTRATION. the. French
eovernment would not feil to obtain for
| the French citizens fair share.
To the second question:: is 1t true that
the lnan Nat China is lust now contract
ing, hT ss nse.i granted 10 British firmsI"
NJ. hnurgcos answers: THE new Chi
nese loan was offered without the guarnn-
tee 10 tho huss.an government: II has no
other securiry Except the balance OF the
customs revenue which ~ reserved as n
guarantee Tor p ,vious loan contracted
| y a ,t-nSiisn conf ny and als9 IT, The
French company which have acted in
concert With the Russian firms in this
matter. could not afford 10 grant 10 the
| Chinese government the conditions which
| II demanded and which were accepted by
British and German firms"
| To the third question: is i true that
| China has opened up the 81 kiang (Wesl
river 10 foreign navigation in spite Of
| promises to the cOntrary%'
| The premier answered: mo promise
| was ever made by the Chinese government
on the subject. 1t Is needless to say that
should the river he opened 1t would not DO
! a privilege reserved 10 any one nation, but
I that French commerce. which Is so impor-
/ tant IN Canton, where Lyons buys her
| SILK, would also take advantage of It, At
| all events, the French government has re-
cciYed assurances that the river viii not
ho opened uhess we obtain at the same
| time for q French company the concession
of railroad into China"
To the fourth question: what doclara-
| lions has Mr.. cur1on. British under sec
| rotary of state, made on the customs
| duties 20 he established at Madagascar!
| W nat notifications have we made on the
| subject, and what answer have We re.
| ceiVed?"
! NJ. Bourgeois answered: 1T is inipossi-
bic to treat Oft hand SUCH All Important
question When the bin on the NADIA
rascar tariff comes before the house
| every needed explanation viii he given to
ne senate Wo have notified the powers
| mat we haVu nil1rn possession OF NADIA
| eascnr The great majority OF the pow
! ers nave acknowledged our notification
without comment. Only two governments
| hhvp asked for further explanation We
ara preparing answers contormnbiy to
| ine spirit Of the bill now pending before
concerning Egypt, Mr.. Bourgeois spoka
| a. loilows. rho senate knows by the
deciai alion made on March ~ by NJ
merlhego', me views Of the French gov
ernfneht on the British proposition. You
hn9W fenilenen what has been the atti-
iuue OK our representative on the EgyDt-
,an aebt commission. The Russian COM
missioner has fully shared these views
polh nave maintained In full accord the
/ .ehey 81 me commission in d ques-
i1u OF such exceptional and political I'M
puit 4hcir Views not having been ac-
cepiei both retired from The commissions
ait"r having made protest 7 shall moi
SneMk OF the legal action that has been
DroIsht ny several French bondholders
AGAINST the Egyptian government ma
We commission; on the other hand tnp
bb se% ,, OF the French government have
p Wn brought to ;ho knowledge or The
~ ~. ,alsn koNermintnt and negotiations are
fhhof iaS, me senate will understand
more nor II Is noi possible Just now 10 give
~ usldleu explanations as 10 these
RESERVATIONS must confino myself 10 n
s,atemem OF the prudence and firmnss a
49,, "m,vh lneSe negotiations are now
n~,ng conducted by us. Allow me to pc.
NM, ,nnis you that France. In the stand s,,o
B t9VS, mas met with The firm support Of
i haaS sH'i ana J may add that the entente
pctWren IN" two nations was urver ,,,n,..
COMPLETE and cordial than now. r"'o o,s
n nnnny 10 conclude With these assiir.
THE COMPANY ALARMED
L'rdcn, March Silt is reported that
inc british South Africa company is seri.
SSusy alarmed at events taking place In
s sentl , africa and has made strong repre-.
shn,,.t,t,ons 10 me British government.
n1 .r, II Is absolutely necessary thu, -
, ,aree torce should be immediately dis.
p"'ened to relieve Buuwayo.
NhGus ORDERED MASSACRE.
new York, March si-A dispatch IN
,'e h"ia'd from Rome says; The negus,
M.neiik' has ordered the massacre of +.
~ niber of persons who have f,i,o,. a,