New-York tribune., 1898-11-10
CENTRAL AFRICAN COMPLICATIONS.

The end Of last week brought final and author
itative announcement Ot precisely such IN ad-
justmeni OF affairs in Central Africa rs had
been forcshadowed in these columns France
withdrnws from Fashoda and surrendr"s tho
whole Nile to Egypt-that Is, TO Great Britain.
No conditions are made or expressed, and no
compensation appears 10 have beer given or
promised. The scene OF controversy is shifted
from FashOda 10 the Bahr-e GhaZal. There
France will make her diplomatic fight, with
what result IS as yet matter for mere conjcct-
ure No doubt France has high hopes OF sub
stantial gains, and no doubt Lord Salisbury
looks for some pretty serious negotiations be
fore the boundaries Of the Egyptian Soudan are
finally delimited.
The settlement effected at FaShoda Is called
by one London paper, not noted for calmncss of
judgment, the greatest triumph Of British diplo-
macy In twenty years. 1t is scarcely that. But
it is n decided triumph, and il Is all the more
gratifying because il is effected with the cordial
approval Of all parties in Great Britain. except
.ng, Of course, the Little Englandcrs and the
tcw irreconcilable Irishmon VINO cheer for
France and used TO drink toass to the health Of
the Mahdi and the khalifa, and because it is the
fulflment Of n fixed and consistent policy main
tanned alike by Conservatives and by Liberals,
as all important foreign policies In all countries
should be- II was more than eight years ago
that the British Government, then under the
Marquis Of Salisbury, warned all the world that
the whole Niie was TO be reserved for Egypt.
That was done In the Anglo-German agreement
Of July 1890 In March Of the following year,
with the same Government in power. the notice
was repeated in an Anglo-ltalian agreement In
May, 1894, when Liberal Ministry was in Of
fee, established by Mr. Gladstone and at the
time led by Lord Rosebery. a third notice
given in an Anglo Congolcse agreement.
fourth time II was put forth, with especial ap-
plication to France. In March, 1895. while the
Rosebery Government was still in office IN the
form OF direct warning TO France to keep ont
of that region, made by Sir Edward Grey Of
the British Foreign Office. And for the fifth
time the policy affirmed IN September last
under the present Salisbury Government. when
Sir Edmund Monson made II formal and en-
phatic declaration on the subject TO NJ Del
casse.
That IS the way in which the foreign policy Of
a great nation should be maintained if IL In 10
command respect and be effective Such CON
sistency Great Britans part could not but
impress France and move her 10 be conciliatory
and TO retire from position in which she had
unfortunately placed herself in antagonlsm to
the interest and honor Of her neighbor II Is to
that consistency that credit for the final triumph
Is chiefly due, and not to the stand taken at tho
present time. If Lord Roscbery had In 1891 %
reversed or rcpudintcd the policy OF Lord Sails
bury in 1s90'9l, Lord Salisburys policy in IS9S
would have been deprived Of half its strength.
1t Is upon that same principle that the British
Government will doubtless chiefly rely In tho
coming diplomatic contest over the Bahr-el.
GEazal. Tor tho original declaration. in tho
German agreement Of 1890. was that the entire
Bahr-cl Ghazal, as far as the watershed be-
tween II and the Ubanghi, was to be regarded
as Egyptian That declaration was confirmed
by Lord Rosebery in his Congolesc agreement
OF 1904. 1t may now be logically insisted upon