The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-19
France CROWS SUSPICIOUS
England's Expeditions to the Sudan
Regarded with Alarm.
MR. BERTHELO1'S POSITION
1t Is Approved by French Newspapers
Generally-Thc Attitude of Russia.
Austria and Germany on tho
African Question.

I'dFlS, MaFcn lS.-Ine government
and people of France are beginning to
realize that the recent conferences at
Berlin between the Austrian minister
for foreign affairs, Count Goluchowski;
the Italian ambassador at Berlin,
Count LAMA di Busca. and the German
imperial chancellor. Prince Hohenlohe.
and with Great Britain a party TO the
conclusions, had considerable signific-
ance. The re-arrangement of the Drie-
bund with Great Britain as an active
partner in the arrangement was, 1t Is
believed, but the first step i'm an at
tempt TO make alterations in the map
of Africa. The interview between NJ.
Bertheiot, French minister of foreign
affairs, and the Marquis of Duffern,
the British ambassador here yesterday,
when the former asked the latter the
reasons for Great Britain's expedition
to Dongola and called attention to the
gravity of such step was an evil
dence of the governments serious view
of the case. and the need of explana-
tions on the part of Great Britain The
Toulon correspondent of the Figaro
this morning says that matters have al
ready reached such stage that orders
are expected there at any moment for
the French Levant squadron to proceed
to Egyptian waters.
There Is a marked change today In
the attitude of the French government
and the press of France towards Great
Britain's Egyptian plans. The military
operations contemplated are very OBJ
jectionable to France and to Russia
also. Great Britain and the powers
composing the Dreibund are well aware
OF the perpetual objection of France to
anything which tends to prolong the
British occupation of Egypt. and 1t is
stated here on high authority that both
France and Russia distinctly refused
their assent to the proposition that the
Egyptian debt commissioners advance
sum or money with which to defray
the cost or the campaign. Therefore.
as france and Russia are among the
guaranteeing powers responsible to the
Egyptian bondholders, IL is understood
here that the money for the camnaipn
up the Nile will have to be found else
where.
ENGLANDS PURPOSE.
Attention is drawn to the fact that
the Brltlsh governments statements
regarding the cost of the campaign be-
ing borne by the Egyptian budget were
met by question as to what the gov
erhment would do If the guaranteeing
powers refused to agree to this and
that no definite reply was Forthcoming.
rms is thought here to tend to prove
that the campaign is not an Egyptian
Undertaking in any sense of the word,
nut a deliberate pushing onward into
Africa of British Egyptian forces
winch, after the first reverse will be
reinforced by a strong force of British
troops from India and Great Britain.
with the result that the SOudan will be
annexed to Egypt and the occupation of
the latter country by Great Britain will
be continued indefinitely
the newspapers here, generally
speaking. approve of NJ. Berthelot's
communicating to the British ambas-
sador the dangers which might arise
from the advance of British Egyptian
troops up the Nile. The ambassador Is
reported to have confined himself to re-
marking that the representations of the
french government would be commu-
nicated to the British foreign Office.
The newspapers advise NJ. Berthelot to
persist I'm the energetic stand he has
taken. even if he did not follow preced-
ent in transmitting his objections
through the French ambassy in London.
Advices received here from Rome to-
day say that French and Russian
agents are actively intriguing there in
efforts to detach Italy from the Drei-
bund. 1t is asserted that these agents
have spent great deal of money in Or
der to assist i'm bringing about the over
throw of Signor Crispi as premier. who
was known to be staunch adherent
of the Dreibund. and to help the acces-
sion to power of the Marquis di Rudini,
who is reported to he lukewram in re-
gard to the alliance. These agents are
now said to be doing everything possi-
BILE to influence the new Italian cabinet
to effect change i'm its foreign policy
which would detach Italy from her al
lies. But even the most sanguine pOlit-
icans of the French capital doubt that
anything will be accomplished i'm this
direction. especially after the honor be-
slowed upon King Menelek by the czar
and the clear evidence In the possession
of the Italian government that French
and Russian agents have for long
time past been actively and continually
assisting the Abyssinians.
ROND OF POWERS.
If Italy were to determine to detach
herself from the Dreibund she would
have to give notice before May 6
the present year; otherwise the Bond
of the Three Powers" continues for
another six years.
Another despatch from Rome says
that it is reported there that Emperor
William desires modification of the
Dreibund which would enable Germany
to come to an understanding with Rus
sia i'm regard to the Balkans. But. as
the Balkan question was one of the
most important factors In bringing
about the formation of the Dreibund.
the Rome despatch does not attract
much attention here. Germany would
most likely be supported by Austria
and Italy. and sympathized with by
Great Britain. in any action she might
th;pG har-alf fpmnaIIpl n take in the