The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-18
ALL FRANCE
Warns England Against
SOudan Campaign.
Russia Is a Powerful Ally
Against Great Britain.
The Car Has No Sympathy With
England's Plans.

rARIs, March ls.-The French govern
ment up TO this time has not defined Its
position toward the proposal to dispatch
an Egyptian expedition up the Nile. There
Is reason to believe that the proposal camc
as a surprise 60 the French government.
French statesmen had been entertaining
the hope that on opening OF negotiations
was near at hand looking 10 the evacua-
tion Of Egypt by the British troops.
The first intimation now comes of the
probable course which France will take liz
view of the new conditions in Egypt. A
sensation has been caused hy the an-
nouncement made by NJ Berthelot, minis
ter of foreign affairs, TO the cabinet meet
ing yesterday, that he had asked the Brit
ish ambassador, the Marquis OF Dufferln,
for information regarding the proposed
advance of British Egyptian troops up the
Nile, and had pointed out to him the seri
GUS consequences OF such au advance
This warning note may be n preliminary
10 more decided steps.
The foreign minister's announcement
was eagerly taken up In the lobbes OF the
chamber of deputies, and was the exclu-
sive topic OF discussion. The prevailing
sentiment Expressed was one OF indigna
iion at the course adopted by Great Brit
ale and the general feeling Is that France
must adopt decisive tone in dealing with
the matter.
A semi-oflicial statement was given out
last evening, rejecting the opinion OF
the government ON the subject, although
Nj. Bcrthclot had decided 20 postpone max.
ing the formal statement In the chamber
OF deputies on the attitude of the govern.
al.
''Tho proposed advance up the Nile" says
this inspired utterance, lis "A great sur
prise 10 the government. and will serve tc
embittcr the anii-English feeling In France
ut "a time when "A better entente was prom
ised
This is a reference to the London agree
ment Of Jan 10, bearing on the delimita
tion OF English and French possession
ON the Mekong with substantial al
vantage to France, the appointment
commissioners for fixing the boundary DO
tween The Erench and English possessions
Of the lower Niger and the opening Of ne.
gotiations for fresh convention respect
ing Tunis.
The governments semi-official state-
ment further announces that Great Brit
aims explanation that the advance is
~
viewed with skepticism In France"
Standing In with Russia.
France is not deciding upon the course
she will pursue without fail understand
ing with her Russian ally, and IL is an
nounced that numerous kilograms passed
between Paris and st. Petersburg yester-
day on the subject.
II Is understood here that Great Britain
also sounded the Russian government be-
fore announcing the Egyptian program.
But the action of the czar In comforting
upon the Negus Meneek the military or
der OF st. George Is accepted as peremp-
tory notice that Russia has no sympathy
with Great Brltain's plans for aiding and
relieving the Italians in Africa.
As one OF the guaranteeing powers &C.
the Egyptian bondholders, France has
more than the usual interest Of the other
powers In the disposal Of Egyptian reve.
nues, and she may refuse 20 consent to the
cost Of the Nile campaign being charged
TO the Egyptian budget. The skepticism
semi-ofiicially expressed by the French
government rs 10 the alleged necessity of
the campaign w the interest Of Egypt In.
dicates purpose TO try to restrain the dis
posal of Egyptian revenues.
Apprchensions havo been aroused in
France by British campaign mp the
Eile, to extend beyond Dongola and
Khartoum and into Central Africa and the
sources Of the Nile. where French colonial
expansion has neen us active or more
active than IL hns been In Tonking and up
the Mckong This French expansion
threatens TO absorb the vale, OF the Nile
itself and 20 push on to tho borders of
the Italian possessions in Ethiopia, thus
-ferH.ing an nbstruction between British
Uganda aud Egypt.
Great Britain has viewed these en-
croachments with impatiencc, and French
oiscrvWs do not fail TO motto that even
liberal members of the British parlia-
lnent express tho belief that Lord Sails
bury Is looking 20 reoccupying the Soudan
and opening way 10 the British posses.
sons in South Africa.
A returning conimissary general for the
French Congo rerently gave public express
sion 10 the hopeful prospects for France OF
gaining access go the valley Of the Nile
from the Franco Congocso territory. at Ia
for us now he added. "only 20 follow per-
sistently the road which is open 60 us, and
20 surmount the obstacles which the pow.
ers Interested may place In our way.
Access TO the valley OF the Nile from the
south is the only way I'm which we may
he enabled one day to settle the Egyptian
question in n manncr consistent with our
Interests. BY that means, also, we shall
be able one day 10 successfully oppose the
progress OF our rivals in regard TO coll
onization.'
The vast territory eastward OF Lake
Tschad, including the Mohammedan
states Of Baghuiri, Wadai and Darfoor
have also been rapidly brought under
French imfucfrc. and form another point
nf vantage for advance into the Nile val.
ley.
France fears that the Egyptian advance
10 Dongole covers British advance 20
Kbgrtonm and TO Uganda. and an inter
ference with her prosperous colonial ex-
pansion In Central Africa. The British
occupation Of Egypt Is sufficiently calling
In itself. but more SO I'm It's threat TO
French plans In Africa beyond Egypt.
A VALUABLE ADVISER.