The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-16
FRANCE INTERESTED.
England's Need Of Friends Causes Mixed
Political Situation.
copyrighted. 1890.

LONDON, March 10. - III Is uennitel.
stated, In connection with the reopened
Egyptian question, that the British gov
ernment consulted and obtained the ap-
proval of majority OF the powers before
deciding upon the advance on Dongola:
This makes the new Soudan campaign OF
far-reaohing political Importance In IT.
hearing upon Great Britalns relations
with the European powers. That the dis
closure, by recent events, OF Great Brit.
aims complete and friendless isolation In
the community Of nations has givon
shock and feeling OF uneasiness To tho
responsible craftsmanship OF Great Brit
ain has been frankly admitted by British
statesmen themselves; that England's
diplomacy has been busy with efforts %
make some inroads into the universal hos
tile array of nations has been generally
understood.
When thetcrms OF the settlement OF the
dispute over the boundaries between tho
possessions on the Mekong IN Indo- China
OF Great Britain and France were made
known, the world expressed Its wonder AT
the substantial concessions made by Great
Britain, and the opinion was generally
held that Great Britain sought TO secure
an entente with France as consideration
for these concessions.
Many commentators profcssed to SEQ
confirmation OF this opinion In the sug'
gestion offered by the sultan little later
10 Lord Salisbury, that England should
regularize the situation In Egypt. 1t
was suggested that the sultan's suggestion
was inspired by Great Britain itself in
order TO open mp course for the evacua-
tion Of Egypt, thus removing the principal
cause OF irritation between Great Britain
and France.
De Courcers Significant Visit.
The announcement of the new Soudan
campaign is clear and convincing evidence
that there Is 10 bo no rappro,hement be-
tween Great Britain and France. II fur
ther evidence were needed OF this, IL was
seen In the prolonged visit on Friday TO
the foreign office OF Baron de Courcel the
French ambassador In London, and his
subsequent departure In person for Paris
to impart the result Of his interview TO tho
French cabinet.
Confederation OF frances opposition to
the proposed Soudan campaign Is found
In a dispatch from Cairo, naming rs tho
explicit grounds OF her opposition that no
movement In the Soudan exists warrant
ing such campaign, and that the Khalifa
Abdullah, the successor OF the late
mahdi, Mohammed Ahmed. and military
chief under him In the former war; has
lost all his authority and has withdrawn
his loyal adhercnts from the Kassala dis
trict.
The advance upon Dongola was decided
upon by the British government with u
view to the favorable effect 1t would have
h. In. h,e i,l,
as was stated by The Times, the organ OF
the British cabinet, In connection with It's
announcement of the Soudan campaign.
Almost simultaneously with this an
nouncement comes the news OF the VISIT
of Count Goluchowski, the Austro-Hun-
gnrian prime minister, to Berlin, and the
statement that as n result the driebund Is
TO remain intact and that the German
governments irritable attitude toward
Great Britain, as manifested over the
Transvaal episode, has been modified
through the exertions Of Count Goluohow-
ski.
Tho question OF the hour in European
politics is whether Great Britain has
thrown In her fortunes with the driebund
as against France and Russia.
The statement which has been promised
In the house OF commons for the purpose
Of the proposed advance mp tho Nile by
Mr.. Curzon, parliamentary secretary OF
the foreign Office, Is looked for with keen
interest, IN the hope that 1t may disclose
something OF the shifting OF International
relations now being adjusted In Europe
Kicking In Germany.
Dispatches from Berlin state that the
proposed Soudan expedition Of the British
government cxcites vast deal OF atten-
tion and comment In political circles and
In the press there.
The German newspapers, In comment.
ing upon the proposed Egyptian advance
to Dongola, still show an intense hatred
for England The National Zeitung, for
instance, scorns tho idea that she will do
anything to help Italy I'm the straits into
which that unfortunate power has como
In Africa, and hints that England will
acquire Kassala rs q result of the cam
paign.
Most of the newspapers here regard the
Dongola movement Ms u clever move on
England's part 10 silence camor on the
Egyptian question and TO offer an answer
to France and all those who press her for
the evacuation Of Egypt for years to come.
The Vossische Zeitung thinks that no
body is better fitted for the task of tho
conquest Of the Soudan than England
The Kolnische Zeitung, speaking
through the inspiration OF tho foreign |
office, thinks that England had delayed |