The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-24
FRENCH YELLOW BOOK.
MAJOR MARCHAND's REPORT N0r
INCLUDED IN THE DISPATCHES.
substance OF Conferences which
nave Been Hcld-France Claims
tn Have Reached Fashoda First.

iaris, october ga semi official note
issued u6s evening says:
There is no foundation for the aaarmist
rumors regarding the relations between
France and Great Britain. II is equally In
correct to say that extraordinary measures
have been taken at any OF our naval ports"
The Fasho'ia yellow book is voluminous.
but 1t does not include Major Marchanl's
report. which viii be published later. The
dispatches were largely anticipated by the
English Fa.era blue book.
The diplomatic conversations recorded
show curious cpdeayor on the French
side to represent Major Marchand's nilsson
was quite as important as General Kitch-
eners, on the ground that the struggle
was against the kAaiifa and barbarism.
On September IS. NJ Delcasse. the for
eign minister. informed the British am
bassadbr to France, SIR Edmund Monson,
in explicit language that France did not
regard Lord Salisbury's claim 10 the Sou
dan by virtue of conquest as applying to
Fath oda on the ground that the Marchand
eNpeoltion WENT 10 the relief OF the French
exposition under Captain Leootard. whioh
iaretion In the house OF commons by the
under secretary Of state for foreign affairs
IN Lord Rosebery's cabinet as to the policy
OF the British government towafi the Soul
dan and at time when the equator al
provinces were lost to civilization. In fact
NJ. DelcdsSe arguea unless Great Britain
possessed he sultan's mandate as well as
the khedves TO acquire all former Egyp-
tan provinces, France considered herself
| eQunily entitled wt1 EnglAni To possession
of any point occupied by French officers.
Judging from the yellow book dispatches
the foregoing represents the French stand
point and NJ. Delcasse contends that as
Major Marchani reached Fashoda before
| others England had no right TO demand an
evacuation of Fashodl.
On September 30 Delcasse declared to
Sir Edmund Monson that such demand
| would be equivalent 10 an ultimatum and
| while he could AFFORD French sacrifices 80
long as her honor was intact, for the sake
| of the Anglo French entenlr no one could
doubt whN> ~ows be the reply OF France
| to such demand,
The subsequent dispatches appearing in
tho yellow book relate TO conversations be-
tween Baron DeCourcel. French ambassa .
dor in London and Lord Salisbury the
latter contendng that the capture OF Khar-
tcum entitled Egypt To possession or all
the Mahdi's dominions and ihs French am
| bEsr3iOr arguing lnat MalOr Mlrehdnd ma |
| captured Fashoda before General Kitchener
took Khartoum and that France had for a
long time held several posts In the Bshr-
| FL Gael
Lord Salisbury retortei that the French
forces In he regions referred to were toG
weak to constitute effective occupation.
A final dispatch datei October IL from
Baron De Cource to NJ. Delcasse records
a conversation with Lord Salisbury In
which the French ambassador claimed ac.
cess 10 the Nile through the Bahr- Eli
Gael and asked for limitation OF the
respective spheres of interest OF the tive
powers in reply 10 which Lord Salisbury
indicated that 1t would be necessary foi
him to consult his colleagues.
Baron De CNurcel, having represented
that IL would be impossible for Major Mar.
chand to retire until IL was settled wher
he should 20 and how the evacuation wa
10 be effected LORI Salisbury after re-
fleeing very seriously. said he was rot
sufficiently acquainted with the geograph,
of Africa to reply for the present regard
ing delsmipatioa and that moreover ht
could not enter into projects Of that ma
ture without consulting his colleagues.
Baron Do Courcel concluded the dis.
patch OF October Il, By sayiag. II quiete
him on these explanations which wer'
pronounced in a conciliatcry end friendl,
tone"