The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
But 1t Is Evident They Have
Not Abandoned Their
Land-Grabbing.
PROCRASTINATION IN THE
SUODAN.
Delay When the Hour Is Ripe to
VindICate Gordon and to SIN ash
the Mahdi.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

Special DlSpatC0 10 lHE CALL
LONDON, Nov. Con the Brink" is
the caption under which the Daily News
to-day editorially discusses the Anglo
French relations, and it wonders how
many times In recent years Great Britain
has been on the brink OF war with France.
The same feeling is known to exist among
the well informed of both countries. The
news from Lagos, West Coast OF Africa,
on Thursday last, that the French had
evacuated Saki, one of the posts IN the
Lagos Linterland which had been occu-
pied by their troops in contravention OF
the agreement of 1889, leaving that place
as soon as the British force sent there by
Governor McCallum appeared, shows how
serious the situation in West africa has
become AID demonstrates that a collision
between French and British troops in this
instance was only averted by the retire
ment of the former, and it further shows
that such a collision may occur any day.
Although expected the definite an
nouncement that the Anglo-Egy ptian
cam paign up the Nile has been abandoned
for the present has been the signal for a
howl of disgust similar il tone to the out
burst Of the Morning Post yesterday,
which paper, in specially displayed edi-
toIial article on the subject, denounced
the Government for its hesitancy, adding
that the unfortunate losses in money
and blood are due to procrastination, and
now when the hour is ripe to vindicate
Gordon and to smash the Mahdi nothing
is TO be done, but banefuI hesitation sets
in, moral influenza, which paralyzes our
statesmen"
Denials have been heard from even the
most ardent supporters of the Mini. try.
The ia lure to continue the Soudan cam
paign S attributed both to lack of money
and to the impossibility of finding British
troops for this service until the Indian
troubles are over. Any suggestion that
the Egyptian troops have already broken
the Khalifa's back and are capable of
reaching Khartoum alone is frowned
down until it is beginning to be whis-
pered that the Britishers are agreeing to
lei the Egypatins know how much they
are capable of accom- pli-h hing alone.
!. In any case, whatever the reason for
stopping the campaign may be it seems
to be folly TO wait until next year to &C
complish what could now seemingly be so
readily realized while the Dervishes and
other tribes, already rescued from the
tyranny of the Khalifa, are ready to
help. Indeed, the fact that further COM
plications are threatened would seem to
emphasize the advisibility of Fastening
the recapture of the Soudan.
There is no doubt that British su-
premacy in Central Africa is seriously
threatened by the French, whose unmis-
taxable intention is TO draw horizontal
line across the Soudan and cut off direct
communication between Egypt and the
British possessions in the center and
sou. n of Africa, and the knowledge that
Great Britain is resting on her oars will
cause them to redouble their energies.
The Marquis of Salisbury is urged on all
sides to take spirited action. and 1t is in
sisted if funds are lacking Great Britain
must advance them or even supply the
amount requisite to reach Khartoum.
While the ministry is apparently vacil-
Iating in this direction, it is showing no
lack of energy in the dispute with the
French regarding the Lagos hinterland.
The Foreign and Colonial Offices are
most busily at work and are closely fol-
lowing every detail OF the movements
made. A special map is sent to the Sec
retary for the Colonies, Mr.. Cham berlain,
every night with the latest news and
moves marked on it with little flags.
The news from Saki and elsewhere shows
that the British Governors in Wes Africa
are determined to stop any further French
aggression. Immediately after the occupa-
ton of Saki became known at the British
Foreign Office, the Marquis of salisbury
sent a strongly worded dispatch to The
French Foreign Office, saying that If
conflict occurred, the responsibility would
rest with France, and he also cabled Gov
ernor McCallum 10 instruct the officers of
the British expedition sent to that place
not to allow anything to prevent the re-
occupation of any British territories thus
passed on by the French or other Euro
pean forces. To this is probably attribut-
able the hasty retirement of the French
troops on the approach of the British
forces.
The statement made yesterday by the
Parliamentary Secretary of the Colonial
Office, the Earl of Selborne, that the car
rying out of the Governments policy will
have the effect of opening the British Niger |
Company's territories to all trades shows |
that the Government intends to take over |
these territories.
The announcement that the brother of |
the Khedive of Egypt, Prince Mahomm med /
Ali, is engaged to be married to an Ameri-
can lady whom he met in Europe, and
that IN consequence he has offered 10 re-
nounce the succession 10 the Khediveate,
IN order 10 obtain the consent of the
Khedive, is authoritatively denied.
The Spectator to-day repeats its argu-
menls OF last week on the subject of Cuba,
and comes 10 the conc usion that when
President Mckinney gives his decision it
will be for war.
Several Of the English newspapers to-
day severely criticize the action of Hannis
Taylor, the former Minister of the United |
States, in publishing his views of Cuba in |
an American magazine. I
The Pail Mall Gazette saws: HE
is getting even with President Mckinley |
because the latter did not keep him at |
Madrid" Continuing, the Pail Mall |
Gazette remarks: "Mr. Taylor finds no |
difficulty in forgetting that all the in
formation he has seen fit 10 divulge was |
obtained in his official capacity, and |