The morning times., 1896-03-22
FRANCE WILL NOT OBJECT
Nothing More Than a Protest
Against Plans in Egypt.
RUSSIA STRICTLY NEUTRAL
England May Use the First Credit
From the Funds without Serious
Opposition From the Powers-Gov-
ernment L. Careful Not TO Arouse
Public Opinion.

London, March 21.-Tbe position OF the
British government is easier under official
news from Paris that France will either
not oppose the first credit for G500,OU0
from the Egyptian funds for the expenses
OF the Soudan expedition, or viii confine her
opposition to a formal protest against
the use OF the money for this purpose.
Russia win remain strictly neutral and
WI give no support 10 France as against
Tie expedition. Russia is even credited
with viewing the British projects with
some mea sure af good viii as being likely
10 divert The whole energies OF Great
Britain in a direction where Russian in
tcrests are not likely 10 bc greatly con-
cerncd
NJ Berthclor, the French minister Of
foreign affairs. clearly recognizes. though
the French people do not. THAI France is
powerless 10 make an effective opposition.
RUSSIA HAS NO VOTE.
Russia has no vote in the commission
OF the Egyptian public debt, while Great
Britain holds two votes. France two, and
Austria, italy and Germany one each. A
difference of opinion exists as 10 whether
the statutes relating TO the commission
requires unanimous or ma i0rity vote.
IN several instances decisions have been
based on a ma jOrity vote, notably the
grant OF 1850 600 for the abolition OF the
COrvee. at which Jimc France protested
against the grant. 4 any rate. NJ. Berthe
lot. feeling himself powcrlcss To prevent
the expedition, has lleaJen retreat.
The war Officials here declare that the
expedition viii be only a reconnaissance
IN force and Will not admit that the present
phase is anything beyond an initial step
jn an autumn campaign.
Thparmy intelligence acparincUip possesses
only the most vague information regarding
the strength Of the Mahdlsts. Military cx-
perts disiruSt The estimates MADE by SlaIin
Pasha though. as a matter of fact, his long
captivity among the MaEdists should. on
the face pf things. have made him an
authority on the subject.
Has A LARGE FORCE.
Tacsc cNpcrts con>id,r that a report made
by the Russian lraveieg EI~eicf. vino was
recently elected a member OF the Russian
Gelgrap paiCal Society. j. more reliable than
that of Slatn pasiia. He saws that the
KhalifaS force numbers 40 900. men. in
cludnG 10000 cavalry and caGlclry.
They possess 100 600 rifles. OF which
20. coo are RcniIngtyns. really fit for service.
the artillery Is poor There are twenty
guns al Eoneoia and five hrupp aud ten siege
guns aI OmdurnIan.
correspondent rf Tie Amy and Navy
Gazette states that The dcrVi>heS are now
able TO deliver Il deadly rifle fire. They VIII
combine European tactics with the for
middbie unsets of cavalry ana spearmen
IN the old stylC. The CORE spundent declares
that The British tactics 90 forming squares
and waiting Tie shock Of battle VIII not
do now in fighting jhc dery ishe aud if they
are followed VIII result in reUt and ruin.
The cuHSeu~us OF military opinion is that
u n rccauquc~t OF the SOudan is intended
q picked force of British ana Indian troops
2O.OUu strong VIII be necessary. 1t Is
no wonder that the British government
is reliceHt regarding the details and ultl-
mate Tim ~ iHe expedition.
CABINET Is CAUTIOUS.
Even with q solid parliamentary majOT-
uy the cabinet does not dare in the mean
time 10 arouse The opinion OF the country
Oh the great enterprise, which is certain
Go ultimately involve large expenditures
by tie British treasury. Until Parliament
rises i'm August Lord Salisbury VIII not
disclose me game bat the government is
pls wing.
The Relgian-Cunro Free State eXpedi-
tiOn under he command or Baron DhaniS,
which VIII attack the deryishes on the
upper Niic simultaneously with the Anglo
Egyptian attack upon those on the lower
HlIr. Is an assured fact. The French press
denied lhat il was the intention 10 dispatch
such an ,-NpcdUirB. uut the semi-Official
Etole Beige confirms lie statement made
by the United Press last Saturday that
such an expedition had been formed ana
shat with the consent ofthc British colonial
Office. a number OF Houssas bad been re-
CrClfed for ii al Lagos.
King Leopold viii shortly come 10 Lord IN
20 ,unCiGdc DE arrangements for the ad-
vance Of THIS expedition TO the Nile.
Baron nH3uiS. with a strong force IS
now nearing Babr-EEGazcel. he has with
him 81 number Of Ma kim and Erupp guns.