The record-union., 1897-11-07
Feeling That England and France
Are on the Brink Of War.
A Collision Of Troops In West Africa May
Occur at Any Moment.
A Howl Of Disgust Goes Up From
Britishers at the Definite An
nouncement That the Anglo
Egyptian Campaign UP the Nile
Has Been Abandoned for the
Present.


LONDON, Nov. 6 copyrighted. 1897.
by the Associated Press).-"On the
Brink is the caption under which the
Daily News" to-day editorially dis
cusses 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-inforned 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 Hinterland, which
had been occupied by their troops in
contravention of the agreement of 1883
leaving that place as soon as the Brit
ish forces sent there by Governor Nc
Callum appeared, shows how serious
the situation in West Africa has be-
come, and demonstrates that collision
between French and British troops in
this instance was only averted by the
retirement of the former, and it further
shows that such a collision may occur
any day.
Although expected, the definite an
that the Anglo Egyptian
up the Nile has been aban-
doned for the present has been the sig
nal for a howl of disgust similar in
tone to the outburst of the Morning
Post" yesterday, which paper, in spe-
cially displayed editorial article on the
subject, denounced the Government for
Its hesitancy and invertedness on all
great occasions adding that the 'un-
fortunate losses in money and blood
are due to procrastination, and now.
when the hour is ripe to vindicate Cor
don and to smash the Mahdi, nothing
is to be done, but baneful hesitation
sets in, a moral influenza which par
alyzes our statesmen
Similar denials have been heard from
even the most ardent supporters of the
Ministry. That the latter should fail
to continue the Soudan campaign is at
tributed both to lack of money and to
the impossibility of finding British
troops for this service until the Indian
the Egyptian troops have already
broken the Khalifa's back, and are ca
pable Of reaching Khartoum alone, is
frowned down, until it is beginning to
be whispered that the Britishers are
agreed to let the Egyptians know how
much they are capable of accomplish
ing alone. In this case whatever the
reason of stopping the campaign may
be, it seems to be folly to wait until
next year to accomplish 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 complications are
threatened would seem to emphasize
the advisability of fastening the re-
capture of the Soudan.
There is no doubt that British SUI
premacy in Central Africa is seriously
threatened by the French, whose unmis-
taxable intention is to draw a hori-
zontal line across the Soudan and cut
off direct communication between
Egypt and the British possessions in
the center and south of Africa, and
the knowledge that Great Britain is
resting on her oars will cause them 10
redouble their energies. The MARQUIS
of Salisbury is urged on ali sides to
take spirited action, and it is insisted
if funds are lacking Great Britain must
advance them, or even supply the
amount requisite to reach Khartoum.
While the Ministry lis apparently
in this direction. 1t is show.
ing no lack of energy in the dispute
with the French regarding the Lagos
The Foreign and Colonial
officers are most busily at work. and
are closely following every detail of the
movements made. A special map is
sent to the Secretary for the Colonies.
Mr. Chamberlain, every night, with the
latest news and moves marked on If
with little flags
The news from Saki and elsewhere
shows that the British Governors in
West Africa are determined to stop any
further French aggression. Immediate
ly after the occupation 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 Governor
McCullom to instruct the officers of the
British expedition sent to that place
not to allow anything to prevent the
reoccupation of any British territories
thus passed on by the French or other
European forces. To this is probably
the hasty retirement of the
French troops on the approach of the
British forces.
The statement made vest terday by the
Secretary of the Colo
nial Office. the Earl of Selborne. that
the carrying out of the Government
policy will have the effect of openin-
the British Niger Company's territories
to all trades. shows that the Govern
ment intends to take over these terri
tories.
The announcement that the brother
of the Kheddve of Egypt, Prince Mo-
Ali, is engaged to be married
to AN American lady whom he met in
Europe, and that in consequence he has
offered to renounce the succession 70
the Khedivate, in order to obtain the
consent of the Khedive, is authorita
lively denied.
Wilcox's Action Indoryed.
DENVER Nov e-Couarno, Aa,,