Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-20
THE NILE CAMPAIGN
PROPOSED NY GREAT BRITAIN IS
EXCITING FRANCE
The Question Is Can France Prevent
the Expenditure OF Egyptian
Surplus for the Purpose.

Paris, March lo-Bgypt has eontin-
usd TO be the chief topic Of discus
zion all day in the ionhies OF the
.. amber OF Deputies. and the state
ucnt made by the minister or foreign I.
lnairs, VI Bcrthelot. adds abundant
fresh material for discussion, The
general feeling 10 that NJ. Berthclots
angUagc was moderate and cautious,
md It has served TO dlspel the anxiety
lf the moderate politicians, who were
consumed with the fear that France
Ras rushing to an open rupture with
Great Britain ami the dreibund, az a
result of the semi-oticlHl announce
nent OF the rcmonstrance which has
been conveyed By NJ. Ilerthelat 10 the
British ambassador. the Marquis OF
Dufferiu.
AS the situation adjusts Itself. and
the intention OF the different parties
to the European balance begins to
emerge, 1t becomes more uad more eNl-
don't that France IS not prepared 10
take any extreme measure to avert the
Nile campaign. Not that she lilSeg Il
any better than when II was first
hrunched-it would be hard TO md
Frenchman who seen In The proposed
campaign anything but plan OF ag-
gression on the part OF Great Britain.
TIE only purposes which any one In
France Will consent to see In the Brit
longing indefinitely the hated occu-
patton OF Egypt by the British troops,
and second, u rc-occupAtiun OF the Snu-
dan, with the intention OF barring the
future designs OF France for prosper
GUS colonial expansion on the Upper
Nile.
NJ. Berthelot referred to-day 10 the
dangers whl.h would result from
arousing religious fanatlclsm, not only
to Egypt, but which. In the LANGUAGE
OF the minister Of foreign affairs,
''mlght even extend to the posse sslon
OF France and other European ma
tions,"
A precipitation Of q holy war among
the fanatical Moslem hordes OF the
Khalifn Abdullnh. would be viewed
with Consideration In France.
Frenchmcn believe the British pur'
pose In the Nile campaign Is to place
bar to the success OF the French CO.
ionial plans.
The precipitation OF holy wa
would threaten not only French In
terests, but, as NJ. Berthelot hlhtc'
to-day, German interests IN the Game
Rooms as well.
There Is the keCnest disappointment
felt hire at Germnn'g asserting Y
Great Britain's proposal to expend IN
Egyptian surplus In the Nile expe
dltion.
The Franco German agreement nc
cords France the right TO acquire ter
ritory westward OF her possesalun'
Reasoning from past accord with Ger
enany In Central Africa, French states
men seem to have entertained nor
that Germany would decline 10 acqu
escr In a British project to thwai
French plans on the Upper Nile. ~
the promise of aid to Italy. Germany
hard-pressed ally, that would oxtr
cate nor from her unpleasant predicu
rnent In Abyssinia. seems TO have bee
m
not bring herself to decline. Ncverth'
less, France Is not prepared TO go
the extreme measure In obstructin
the Nile expedition. French state
men are alert to the fact that n
Egyptian project is not without ita OF
porcnts among Engllshmen then
selves France win rely more upc
the development of English sentImei
AGAINST the project than upon III
overt act 10 prevent IT,
There ia a skepticlsm felt and e:
pressed here about Frances power
prevent the expenditure Of the Egyl
ilan budget under the present eireun
II is also feared that even thong
the dissent Of Russia and Fran
should hold. and the commissioners {
the Egyptian cebt should not vote Il
sun, required out OF the Egyptian su
Mus, Great Britain would supply Il
money and men, ami make the who
project distinctively British instei
OF Egyptian enterprise. occupying Il
Houdan in her own name instead
that OF Egypt, and enter upon furth
aggressive action in Africa,
III Berthelots statement was ma
in reply to the Duke of Arenburg, wi
mrged France TO establish herss
strongly In the Congo territory. In o
der that she may have nothing to fc
from the pcrvishes-