The San Francisco call., 1897-11-27

BERLIN, Nov. pa dispatch to the
Frankfort Zeltung from Rome reports
that sanGuinary conflict has AIKEN place
between the French and British al Nikki,
in the Lagos hinterIand.
LON DON, Nov. CIV hile the accuracy
OF the Rome dispatch announcing that a
conflict has taken place between French
and British troops in the Lagos hinter-
land IS doubted the local morning papers
to-day point out the imm nent danger re.
sulting from the proximity of the two
forces IN the contested territory.
a conflict between the French and
British forces in tie Lagos hinterland
has been anticipated Tor some time past,
and both countries have been hurrying
troops into he disputed territory.
The trouble is of about thirty years
standing. In 1870 France and Great Brit
ain opened negotiations for he settlement
of their respective frontiers N West
Africa, and il was decided, in substance.
o. French influence and authority
Ilol-d be confined to the north of s GER
ain Inc and that Great Britain should
ave free hand scuih OF this line.
The outbreak o. the Franco Prussian
war interrupted The negouations T ere
was consldeTa ole opposition in both coun-
tres tC the cession OF any territory, AM
during the next five years dithcuties fre-
Quenty occurred. Finally it was resolved
10 appoint com uissioners TO reconsider
the whole matter, and, as a result, N the
course Of the next ten years four separate
agreements were oncluded.
But since these agreements were ar
I
owing TO the failure OF the boundary COM
mlssloners OF Great Britain and France TO
agree among item selves as TO the frontier
lines Since then both parties have
turned their attention to getting treaty
concessions fIom native chiefs. The
French have been aiming at the esta blisn-
ment OF great African empire and dis
patching expeditions to the hinterIand of
Lagos and CarnotYille 10 establish heat
quarters.
The British Niger Company, however,
getting wind OF the French plans, dis
patched Captain Lugard to Nikki, the
capital OF Pargua, for the purpose of ne
gOuating treaty with the native ruler,
and the English officer was fortunate
enough TO reach there before French
officer, Com mmandant de Couer, who was
bound for the same place and with the
same intention, although ne latter had
the start. and Lucard secured his treaty
and carried It away three weeks before De
: Coeur arrived at NIkki
Y The French, however. seem to have
Niosen TO disregard this fact and have dis
patched armed expeditions not onIv To
Ni&ki. but to BroUssa, which has all alone
been accredited to be within the suhere of
British influence. To settle these and
other questions in dispute, commission
ers represen ting Great Britain and France
are now tardiiy beginning to deliberate IN
Paris.
Later to-day rumor was received at
the British Colonial Office to the effec,
that there mad really been collision be-
tween the British and French forces At
Nikki. which is said to have been captured
by the French troops.
The officials OF the Colonial Office. how
ever, regarded this report as highly I'M
proba bic, as, they explain, the British
police in the hinterland, who are in very
limited numbers, had strict orders 10
avoid any collision with the French. II
is al-o understood that the French forces
had been IN tructed not to come into con-
tict with the British. The British forces
IN tue hinterland, it is further stated, are
being re-enforced considerably.
The Colonial Office late this evening
received cable message from Lagos STAT
log that 4 rumor is current among he
nauyes there OF a collision between 400
British and French troops. The report,
II Is believed, will prove to be founded on
a conflict between the French and some
halves.