The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-26
GILBERT NJ. KING.

certain line, and that Great Britain
should have free hand south OF THIS
line. The outbreak of the Franco-Prus-
sian war interrupted the negotiations,
there was considerable opposition in both
countries TO the cession of any territory,
and during the next five years dit1cultles
frequently occurred.
Finally it was decided TO appoint COM
missiouers 10 reconsider the whole mat
ter. a meeting in Paris was arranged.
and as result. during the next ~
years, four separate agreements were con-
cluded. One dealt with the te:rItorisl
limits of Sierra Leone; the second with
number of disputed points regarding
Gambia. Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast
and the third agreement drew line be.
tween the spheres of the countries in the
Niger region, running from Say on the
Niger to Barua on Lake Chad and max
ing a detour so as TO include the kingdom
of Sokoto in the British sphere; and the
fourth of these agreements settled the
frontier OF Sierra Leonc, relinquishing
the Hinterlands TO France.
But since these agreements were arrived
at further difficulties have arisen, owing
TO the failure of the boundarys commsi-
sioners OF Great Britain and France to
agree among themselves as to the frontier
lines, especially rs to the Interpretation
Of the Say Barua treaty The British Niger
Company which was first In the field,
concluded a number of treaties with
native chiefs, bringing the whole of the
Borgu and Dahomey Binterland within
the British sphere. This was during the
fall of 1894. In the meantime the French
were trying 10 establish great African
empire, to extend from Algeria To the
basins of the Congo and the upper Nile.
But for this pun pose ii was essential TO
secure the Hinterland of Lagos and Car
notville in Northern Dahomcy, became
the base of dispatchinR a number of
French expeditions into tho interior, this
object In view.
Tho British Niger company however,
getting wind of the French plans att
tempted To negotiate n treaty with the
native rulers and the British officer was
fortunate enough 10 reach Nikkai before
French officer Commandant DE Courier,
who was bound for the same place and
with the same intention, although the
latter had the start and Lugard. the Brit
ish representative, secured his treaty and
carried IL away three weeks before DE
Courer arrived at Nikkai The French.
however, seemed to have chosen 10 disre-
gard this fact and have dispatched armed
expeditions. not only 10 Nikkai. but Co
Broussa which has all along bean ac-
knowlsdged To he within the sphere Of
British influence. Besides this, tho
French have raised question as to
whether the right bank Of the Niger 10.
low Say is properly included in the Brit
ish sphere under the Say -Barua treaty,
and To settle these and other questions In
dispute, commissioners representing
Great Britain and France are now tardily
beginning to deliberate I'm Paris.
Later in the day "A rumor was received
M the British colonial Office 20 the effect
that there i4t.a-teen n collision between
the British and French forces at Nikkai
which is said to have been captured hy
the French troops The official dispatch
To the colonial Office does not mention
this and the officials think 10 highly i'm
probable. IL is understood that the
French forces. as we'll as the British
forces. had been instructed 10 avoid armed
conflict. The British forces In the Hin
terland, IL Is further stated, are being
reinforced considerably.