The herald., 1897-11-28
NO FIGHT YET
Between Foreign Forces
in Africa
CONFLICT. is LIKELY TO COME
UNLESS ryE ROWING SOLDIERS
AsE RECALLED
CONFLICT. is LIKELY TO COME
A Washington Statue for the City Of
Ledon--Labor Questions Un-
solved--British Gossip
lss<iated Press Special Wire.

Ass<iated Press Special Wire.
L3NDON, Nov. 27.-(Copyright. 1879
Th. rumor of a conflict between French
AMI British forces near Nikki, West At
ria, Is authoritatively denied. but the
esneral credence that was given to the
umor shows how grave is the situation.
Since the initiation Of the wild policy
of sending men amid the wild bands OF
Dahomey and Lagos, led by hot-headed
officers. to assert the authority Of their
respective nations and grab anything
in sight which still might be unoccu-
pied, It has been believed that collision
was bound to occur sooner or later
Both governments have been repeatedly
warned to recall these rowing expeditions
and await the settlement of the delimita-
tion commission now sitting in Paris.
It is difficult to apportion the blame
for this state Of affairs. That the French
initiated the system Of raiding the con-
tested territory in West Africa Is indis-
putable; but the Colonial Columbus
as Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the
Liberal leader, has nicknamed Joseph
Chamberlain, the secretary of state Tor
the colonies. has made a serious false
step in following suit If diplomatic
protest on the subject had been promptly
lodged in Paris and vigorously pushed
the whole question would have been ami
cably settled by this time, but instead
of this the French have been permitted
to boldly invade the limits Of British
Lagos territory, fight the natives and
occupy towns 80 that they might more
easily reach and occupy the Say-Bous-
sea-Nikki triangle, which Is the sub
ject of dispute.
So far as known the Marquis of Sails
bury has not asked for reparation. or
even for explanations. and the whole
story appears to be incredible. If Lord
Salisbury and Mr.. Chamberlain have a
settled policy regarding West Africa
they have failed to make 1t known. and
all they seem to be doing at present is
to impress the French with the fact
Of Great Britains unlimited squeeze
ability"
The present situation is fraught with
perilous humiliation and the loss OF the
little self-respect the Tory ministry has
left. For this the country and press,
even the Conservative newspapers, are
demanding reprisals, by the reseizure,
for instance, Of the town Boussea, lately
seized by the French, though believed
to be Enthusiastically within the British
sphere of influence. and by the breaking
OF of the negotiations In Paris until the
acts of the Dahomey officials are form
ally disavowed.
In the meanwhile, another batch of
eight British officers and non-commis-
stoned officers sails from Liverpool to-
day for Lagos, west coast of Africa,
accompanied by a battery Of six twelve
FOUNDER Maxim -Nordenfeldt howitzers
specially supplied by the colonial office,
without consultation with the war office.
It is computed that when the forces
In process of being dispatched are Joined
to the troops already there Great Britain
will have 25O officers and non-commis-
stoned officers and 1000 troops in West
Africa.
MIGHT PAINT 1T
D. 8. Murray. the novelist, is propos-
ing national subscription to erect in
London statue in honor of George
Washington. Messrs Bayard and Hay
have both approved the scheme. The
Daily Chronicle. however questions
whether the statue might not result in
an enlightenment of relations, and says:
Like all near relatives, England and
America quarrel now and then. Perhaps
some day 1t might occur to some bolster
Gus lingo to make the statue of the
father Of his people the subject of an un-
edifying demonstration"
LABOR TROUBLES
The engineering conference apparent
ly bodies Ill to trades unionism. The es-
sence Of the provisional agreement is
that the Masters union employers fed
eration) Is to be free to introduce into
any Of the federation work shops the
conditions existing in any other work
shop without reference to the wishes of
the trades union. The employers have
in mind the system OF piece work, in
which the employees have no voice, pre-
yailing In certain work shops, and it is
the right to substitute individual agree
ments for collective bargains that the
masters are asking the unions to sign
away. If this Is accomplished it in
wolves such changes that the methods on
which industry has hitherto been con-
Quoted as to menace every trades union
In the country. Indeed, the situation ia
regarded as being so critical that there is
talk OF summOning national conven-
tion of representatives Of all organized
labor to discuss the matter.
AN ANCIENT QUESTION
The newspapers are apparently too
previous In Growing over the find of al
legged important Venezuelan documents
at Greytown. which was Immediately
nailed as settling the case and as a USE
ful rebun to American "meddlers in
their neighbors' affairs" The colonial
once now announces that the value OF
the documents Is believed to be "alto.
gether Insignificant" and that they will
not hecessitate an alteration in the state.
ment of the British case as already sub.
mitted.
BRITISH GOSSIP
LONDON, Nov. 27.-Englaud rener
ally, throughout the week. has been on
veloped in fog. The weather continue,
to be unusually mild, though there wa,
a sharp frost on Thursday night.
Queen Victoria gave a birthday mart,
at Windsor on Tuesday for Prince Aler'
ander of Battenberg, aged three years
the eldest son Of Princess Beatrice
widow OF Prince Henry Of Battenberg.