The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31
Invading Forces in the Upper
Nile Valley Are Likely
to Collide.
GREAT BRITAIN ASSERTS ITS
SUPREMACY.
Yet Its Position Is Dangerously I'M
periled by the Presence of Two
French Expeditions,
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

LONDON, Oct. 30.-The African situa-
tion has been aggravated by the French
semi-official note, made public on Tues
day last. and reading: 1.-THE news from
West Africa foreshadows great difficulties
at NikkI and in Borgu. The Niger Com
pany (British) is sending officers there TO
incite rebellion and distribute arms to the
natives.
I'm view of this situation French troops
have been dispatched to the district from
Senegal, as a preventive measure. More
over, the British negotiators for a settle
ment OF the Niger question have been in
Paris for over a week, and everything
points to Great Britain seeking 10 let mat
teIs drag. Seemingly she does not intend
to discuss the question, but means will
undoubtedly be found to foil these tao
tics"
Then the situation was further aggra-
waited by the reply of the British Colonial
Office, issued the same day, declaring that
there did not seem to be any reasons a bic
fear OF complications at Nikki, capital of
The Bogu territory, providing the French
Government behaves reasona bly,"
1t was added, however, at the Colonial
Office that Great Britain had taken the
termination to more effectively police
her territories, and if the French persisted
IN trespassng complications would
natur ally arise.
The wording of these statements, it is
pointed out, shows that both sides are in
clined to lose their tempers. Even the
unexcitable Times says: IF the French
are unwise enough to persist in carrying
a nf III
stituting title, they will find that we
shall be reluctantly obliged to apply it
too."
Il is one of the rare occasions upon
which the press Is unanimous, papers of
all shades of opinion promising the Mar
Quls OF Salisbury the nations support in
''bringing the French filibusters to their
senses"
1t is am using 10 hear the worlds most
notorious land-grabbers coudemning
France for following a similar policy.
France, however, seems equally de-
termined not to recede. sIn fact. the ST
Louis speech OF the French. Colonial Min
lister, NJ. Labon, seems to show that the
cardinal feature CT French policy in AT.
rlca is the extension of French influence
from the west coast TO the Nile Valley
and thence TO Ethiopia, which means an
uninterrupted series of posts and protec-
torates-
In short, with excitement rampant at
home, there is imminent danger of the
rowing armed expeditions meeting in
Africa. The situation is brimful of dam
ger. and it looks as if a conflict can only
be avoided by humiliating surrender of
the aspirations of one of the would be
era Ebers OF Central Africa and the upper
Nile Valley.
Great Britain has always claimed the
right of supremacy in the Nile Valley.
Sir Edward Gray in 1925 infol med France
that any invasion of that territory wcuid
be regarded as an unfriendly act and the
present Secretary OF State for :he Colonies,
Joseph Cham berlain, has indorsed his
words. Yet two French expeditions are
now there, and Great Britains position IN
Upper Egypt is thereby dangerously i'm.
periled.
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Halsbury)
evidently believes in the policy of the
spoils belonging to the victors, and that
1t should be The precominaung influence
IN making appointments.
The appointment OF Charles John Dar-
ling, q. O., conservative mem ber of Par
lament fer Deptford, to the judicial
bench is severely criticized.
Tod" Sloan, the American Jockey, who
is riding tor the Loriilard- Beresford stable
here, has been so successful lately that the
papers are asking whether the American
decided advantage in the case OF sure
footed animals. Sloan is still positive that
St. Cloud IL won the Cam bridge hire
stakes on Wednesday al Newmarket.
George l.. Watson, it is announced, has
designed a racing cutter of about the size
! OF the Bona, the property of the Duke of
Abruzzt, nephew of the King of Italy, for
Herr krupp, who is now building the
| yacht at his works at Essen. The new
BOAT is to meet Emperor William 8 Meteor
In the Baltic races during 1S9S
The anti grain gambling crusade is TAX
ing shape in France. The Cham Der of
Deputies has appointed committee to
investigate and report upon the pro-
posed prohibition OF speculation iu
grain and articles of food generally. Al
most al! the mem bers of the COMMITTEES
are favorable TO the idea of stopping gam
bling, but they recognize the difficulty of
doing so without interfering with legiti-
mate speculation.
The committee, however, is determined
to thoroughly investi ate and examine
the reports of commerce and industry, and
will try 10 determine where legitimate
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