The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
SaIisbury's Ministry Seemingly Deter
mined to Prevent Further AEgres-
sions in the Lagos HinterIand.
ALLEGED OBJECT OF FRANCE
TRYING TO GET A STRIP OF TERRI-
TORY CLEAR ACROSS AFRICA.
M Surprise at the Announcement
that the SOudan Campaign Is TO he
Abandoned for the Present.


right. 1897 by the Associated Press)
DON, Nov Con the Brink is the
caption under which the Daily News to-day
editorially discusses the Anglo French re-
lations and wonders how many times in re-
cent years Great Britain has been on the
brink of war with France. The same feel
ing is known to exist among the we'll in
formed of both countries The news from
Lagos, west coast of Africa, on Thursday
last. that the French had evacuated Salx,
one of the posts in the Lagos Hinterland.
which had been occupied by their troops in
contravention of the agreement of 1885,
leaving that place so soon as the British
forces sent there by Governor MacCallum
appeared, shows how serious the situation
in West Africa has been and demonstrated
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 collision may occur any
day. Although expected, the definite an
nouncement that the Anglo Egyptian cam
paign up the Nile has been abandoned for
the present has been the signal for the howl
of disgust similar to the outburst Of
the Morning Post yesterday, which paper,
in specially displayed editorial article on
the subject, denounced the government for
great occasions" adding that ''the unfor-
tunate 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 baneful
hesitation sets in, a moral influenza, which
paralyzes our statesmen"
Similar denunciations have been heard
even from the most ardent supporters OF
the Ministry. The latters decision not to
continue the Soudan campaign is attributed
both to lack of money and to the impossi-
bility of finding British troops for this serv-
ice until the Indian troubles are over. Any
suggestion that the Egyptian troops have
already broken the Khalifas back and are
capable 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 accomplishing alone. In
any case, whatever the reason for stopping
the campaign may be, it seems to be folly
bordering on madness to walt until next
year to accomplish what could now, SEEM
ingly be so readily realized while tha
Dervishes and other tribes already rescued
from the tyranny of the Khalifa are ready
to help. Indeed the fact that further COM
plcations are threatened would seem to enlx
recapture of the Soudan.
There is no doubt that British supremacy
in central Africa is seriously threatened
by the French whose unmistakable inten-
ton is to draw horizontal 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 to redouble their
energies. The Marquis of Salisbury is
urged on all sides to take spirited action,
and it is insisted that if funds are lacking
Great Britain must advance them or even
supply the amount requisite to reach
Khartoum.
While the Ministry is apparently vaciliat-
ing in this direction, it is showing no lack
of energy in the dispute with the French
regarding the Lagos Hinterland. The for
eign and colonial officials are most bnsily
at work and are closely following every de-
tail of the movement made. A special map
is sent to the secretary for the colonies
Mr.. Chamberlain, every night with the lat
est moves marked on it with little flags.
The news from Sald and elsewhere shows
that the British government in West Africa
are determined to stop any further French
aggression. Immediately after the occupa-
ton of Sald became known at the British
Foreign Office, the Marquis of Salisbury
sent a strongly-worded dispatch to the
French Foreign Office, saying that If con-
fict occurred the responsibility would rest
with France and he also cabled Governor
MacCallum 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 attributable the hasty re-
tirement of the French troops on the APP
proach of the British forces.
A statement made yesterday by the par
liamentary secretary of the Colonial Office,
the Earl of Selborne, that the carrying out
of the governments policy will have the
effect of opening the British Niger Conn
pany's territories to an trades, shows that
the government intends to take over these
territories.
In spite of the statement made by Mr..
Balfour, the first lord of the treasury. in his
speech at Norwich, OH Thursday evening,
that the government had no desire of ag-
eression on the northwest frontier of In
dia. but sought only to maintain the present
frontier, there is little doubt that the trial
made by the punitive expeditions now en-
gagged with the tribesmen will be followed
by the usual piece of grab. The military
despots of India demand, and public opin-
ion in Great Britain manifestly favors, a
permanent military occupation of the terri
tory practically conquered by the British
troops.
A
THE AUSTRIAN CRISIS.