Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-28
TWISTING THE LION'S TAI
WITH IMMUNITY.
RUNNING THINGS IN AFRICA.
GREAT BRITAIN HAS SCARCELY
PROTESTED AS YET.
She Il Sending Troops and Guns to
the Disputed Territory, How
ever. and There May Be
Lively Times After
Awhile.

LonGon, Nov. 2I.~-(Copyrighted. 1891. by
the Associated Press.) In spite Of tine
CHEEKY optimism of the colonial officers OF
both Great Britain and France, the rumors
oil a conflict at Nikki between French and
British forces is a matter of the greatest
gravity. The reason for disbelieving the
reports are far from convincing. Since the
Initiation of the wild policy of sending
armed bands from Dahomey and Lagos. led
by hotheaded officers, TO assert the author
ity of their respective nations and grab
anything in sight which might still be un-
occupied, it has been obvious that a col
hsion was bound to occur sooner or later.
Both governments have repeatedly been
warned to recall these rowing expeditions
and await the settlement of the
ton commission now sitting in Paris.
1t is difficult to apportion the blame for
this state Of affairs. That the French in
itiated the system of raiding the contested
territory in West Africa Is indisputable:
but the Colonial Columbus" as Sir Will
lam Vernon Harcourt, the Liberal leader.
has nicknamed Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
the secretary of state for the colonies, has
made a serious false step in following suit
If a diplomatic protest on the subject had
been promptly lodged in Paris and vigor-
ously pushed. the whole question would
probably have been amicably settled by
this time. But instead of this, the French
have been permitted boldly to invade the
admitted rights of British Lagos territory.
light the natives and occupy towns so that
they might more easily reach and occupy
the Say-Boussa-Nikh triangle, which Is the
subject of dispute.
So far as known, the Marquis of Sails
bury has not asked for reparation or even
for explanations, and the whole story ap-
pears 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
"squeezeability."
The present situation Is fraught with pers
flous humiliation and the loss of the little
self-respect the Tory ministry has left. For
this the country and press. even the Con-
sentative newspapers, are demanding re-
prisals by the re-seizure. for instance. OF
the town Of Boussa, lately seized by the
French db,a M;. though ash R bslisyed 1T to be . u9% ais ak
breaking on Of the negotiations IN Paris
until the acts Of the Dahomey officials are
formally disavowed.
In the meanwhile another batch Of eight
British officers and ncn-commissioned Of
ficers sailed from Liverpool to-day for
Lagos. West coast of Africa, accompanied
by a battery Of six ~12-pounder Maxim
Nordenfelt howitzers. specially supplied by
the colonial Office, without consultation
with the war office.
It is computed tina when the forces in
| process of being dispatched are Joined to
the troops already there, Great Britain will
have $50 officers and nOn-commissioned Of
ficers and 1000 troops In West Africa
Commenting upon this fact. the semi
official Temps of Paris says:
THE British troops will be received by
our troops, who are already de facto in
possession ard who propose to remain SO
until the pending negotiations are settled
by equitable compensations. legitimaIely
shared by France and England. Until
then we shall not swerve."
! II this means anything. 1t means that
, rance intends to extract further grace
full CONCESSIONS from the Marquis Of Sails
bury, similar to those in connection with
Siam Tunfs and MadaUaScar.