The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-20
FRANCES PREDICANENT.
Tho Egyptian Question Is Causing Much
Morry To the Goyernmonl.

Tho Egyptian Question Is Causing Much
/ Worry to the Government
| Paris, March l9--Egypt has continued
| TO be the chief topic of discussion all day
] In the Hobbies of tho chamber of deputies
and the statement made by the minister
! of foreign affairs NJ. Berthelot. adds
abundant fresh material for discussion.
The general feeling is that M Berthelot's
languaue was moderate and cautions and
it has served TO dispei the anxiety of
| the moderate politicians who were con-
! sumed with the fear that France was
rushing to an open rupture with Great
/ Britain and the dreibund az result of
the semi-officiai announcement of the
remonstrancc which had been conveyed
| by Nj Berthclot to tho British ambas-
sador. tho Marquis of Dufern..
| AS thu situation adjusts Itself and the
| intention of the different parties TO this
I Europeah balance begin to emerge, u
becomes more and more evident that
France Is not prepared to take any eS-
IRENE measures to avert the Nile cam
paIEn. Not that she likes IT any better
than when II was nrst broached--it would
be hard to hnd a trencnman who sees
in the proposed campaign anything but
plan OF aggression on the part OF Great
britain. TheY all deny that there Is any
need Tor II as measure of protection or
/ Egyptian interests against the der
! wishes. They protest that Frances In
or greater than Great Brthin's or the
other powers. X is pointcdly argued that
largo majority of all the Egyptian
tundholders arc French citizens and that
IL Egyptian interests were really threat
ened by the Dervishes France would have
. as much interest In protecting them as
She. also, II IS argued. has n greater
interest tn ihe prevention OF the dlss-
patton OF the Egyptian surplus In need
Less expense Than has Great britain
Tho only purpose which any one IN
France Will consent TO zoe In the British
plan are hrst. an excuse for prolonging
indefinitely tho hated occupation of
| Egypt by TIE British troops, and second.
u re-occupation of the Soudan, with the
{ intention OF barring the future designs
pansion ON the upper Nile.
NJ. Berthelot referred today to the dam
gers which would result from nrousng
religious fanaiiclsm. not only to Egypt |
but which, In the language of the minister
Of foreign affairs. migh, even extend TO
ropean nations"
a precipitation OF holy war among
he fana!leal Moslem hordes Of the
CONSERVATION In France. The growth OF
Frances sphere Of influence east OF Lake
Tchad' in Central Africa has extended
States 81 BaRhuiri. Wadv aud Darfnr /
and on her colonial policy--whirh Is nil
devoted 70 maintaining cordially Of re-
latious depends the succesn NJ her fu- |
ture plans, which avowcdly Includes an !
extension Of Influence 70 the Nile basin !
Itself Frcnchmen believe the British
a bar 10 tho success OF these French
colonial plans. Tho precipitation OF n |
holy war would threaten not only French |
interests. but, as NJ Rerthclot hinted to- |
day. German interests In the Camerocns |
as well There IS tho keenest disappoint. |
ment feii here at Germany's assenting to |
Great Bri'ain's proposal 10 cSpcnd the |
, Egyptian surplus on tho Nile expedition. |
The German m" French colonial project. |
in most friendly terms and they have
submitted In common TO the grumbiing |
disapproyal OF Great Britain.
The france-Germnn Agreements give |
France the right to acquire territory west |
ward Of her possessions. RAaEonlng from |
past accord with Germany in Central Az |
entertained "A hope that Germany would |
decline to acqui6ace IN a British project 1
to thwhrt French plans on the upper !, lie.
But the promise OF aid to italy. Ger |
many's nard oppressed ally that would eN |
tricate her from her unpleasant rr1ica- |
nent IN Abyssinia seems to have besh an
inducemcnt that Germany could not bring
herself 10 dc,line Nevertheless France is |
not prepared TO go TO extreme measures |
In obstr1ctipg the Nile expedition. frcnch |
statesmen are alert 10 the fact that the 4
Egyptian project Is not without It's OPP /
ponents among Engilshmen themseive-
They are well aware that large body OF |
Influential EngliTh statesmen regard the
Nile expedition stmply as a price paid "a
heavy price sfy Think for accord with
the NftlbHfll' fllblt ny iFfEi sl'A'NNi
to eStricaie Grea, Britain from her poei-
f.on OF isolation among the powers OF the
world and a willingness TO assume some |
UNPLEASANT responsibility for succeeding
iu this France viii rely more upon tho
development Of English sentiment against
the uroiect than upon any overt act TO
present il,
There IS a scepticism felt and expressed
here about Frances power To prevent INC
expenditure Of the Egyptian budget under
tho present circumstances. The valuS or
the argument advanced by NJ 3erthelot
i'm his address 40 the chamber today, that
unananity Of approval OF the guarantee
Ing uowers ~ required 30 authorize The
withdrawal Of Egypiian fnnds-ls doubel
that unanimiiv is required only as 20 the
nse of the funds when intended 20 he
permanent. There Is. besides, an apTTe''