The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-30
Belief Prevalent I'm Britain that He
Was Given a Hint by the French
Government to Return.
THE BAHR-E -GHAZAL DISPUTE
LIKELY TO WORRY THE DIPLOMATS
BEFORE 1T is SETTLED.
Situation in the Far East Full of Pos
sibiIities-The Gar Said to Have
Become a Dreyfusard.
tcopzrlght. 1sgs bv the AssocIated presso

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
LONDON, Oct. 29.-The arrival of Major
Marchand at Khartum on his way to Cairo
with the portion of his report which was not
finished when Captain Baratier left Fashoda
is regarded as a rift in the clouds overhang-
ing Anglo-French relations, for, in spite of
the senli-official denial issued in Paris that
orders were sent to the major to go to Cairo,
it is fully believed here that the French
officer would not be on his way to Cairo
unless he had received a hint to that effect
from the French government, which con-
siders that his leaving Fashoda will take
the sting out of the situation and at the
same time prepare France for the eventual
withdrawal of the whole expedition, which
now consists Of seven officers and 12O men.
The British view of this latest move is that
the Marquis of Salisbury and his ministers
are delighted to afford Major Marchand the
facilities for reaching Cairo. But they
would hardly care to send him back, except
in the capacity of guest and scientific eX-
plorer. That is to say, France will first
have to renounce her political claims based
on his mission.
In the meanwhile in the voluntary return
of Major Marchand the French minister of
foreign affairs, N. Delcasse, and the gov
ernment of France have got over a great
difficulty from diplomatic amour propre
point of view. M. Delcasse had declared
that the French government could not do
the impossible, that is to say recall Major
Marchand. Therefore the latter's return has
enabled the French government to save
it's face" as the saying goes.
1t is recognized however, that even if the
tri-color of France is hauled down at Fasho-
da the main subject of dispute remains and
may cause anxious moments in both coun-
tries before the Bahr-el-Ghazal question
is settled, although there has been a conf
dent feeling for the last few days that war
would be averted. The French ministerial
crisis at first increased the feeling of
anxiety which prevailed as to the prospects
OF a peaceful solution, but in the list of
probable ministers the British newspa-
pers see body of experienced and capable
men who are able to lead French opinion.
The retention Of M. Delcasse at the head
of the ministry of foreign affairs, however,
is not regarded favoraby, as he is the
father, so-called, of the Marchand ad-
venture.
ORIGIN OF THE ENTERPRISE.
An instructive account of the origin of the
whole enterprise appears in an important
Paris paper, LIE Journal, which says the
Marquis De Mores, the Anglophobe French
explorer, who was assassinated in the Hin
terland of Algeria, really conceived gran
diose plans, which he submitted to M. Del
casse, who fell in with his views and dis
patched Major Marchand to the upper Nile
while De Mores started for the Sahara with
the avowed hope to conquer, with the CO.
operation Of Marchand, the province of
Bahr-E Ghazal. The plan of campaign in
cluded the organization of all the armed
peoples opposed to Great Britain, and in
cluded even the cooperation of the Khalifa,
whose forces, led by Frenchmen, would at
tack the British, and the Khalifa, backed
by the French explorers, would thus inter-
pose a buffer between Egypt and Central
Africa, thereby thwarting British aims. De
Mores and his party were massacred at the
outset of their journey, but Marchand sue
ceeded in carrying out his part of the plan,
and there is reason to believe that the
French government now wishes he had not
done so. AS the Eclair says to-day: Maj.
Marchand returning! Why then did he go
to Fashoda? In order to play the game
we played against the English we ought
to have had navy capable Of making a
brave showing against the English. instead
of which the fossils of our navy department
have left US disarmed and incapable of
fighting with honor
The French newspapers seem to have little
faith in Russia helping her ally in the pres
ent crisis, while Russian dispatches to the
British papers affirm positively that the
Czar is decidedly opposed to war and has
counseled the French government to aban-
don its untenabe attitude. 1t is even said
49, oI,o q
titude as reckless.
In the meanwhile. military and naval
preparations continue on both sides of the
channel. There was talk at Devonport to-
day of flying squadron being commission
ed. But a reassuring feature is the de-
parture of Sir William Henry White, the
director of naval construction of the British
navy, on a two months visit to Egypt. No
extreme measures, therefore. are expected
by the Admiralty officials at the present
moment, at all events.
ENGLAND'S MOTIVES.
Mr.. George Wyndham, Conservative, mem
Der of Parliament for Dover. speaking to
his constituents has made an interesting
comparison between British and American
aims He says: "In Egypt we are actu-
ated by the very sentiments which actuated
&AIneNicd I'D lhS ACcSnl Wal. III the case OF
the Philippine islands America could not
tolerate the situation there. and. having un-
dertaken a task, she objected to being ham,
pered by Germany. and so made it plain that
since she is engaged in a Iaudable enter
prise in a sphere in which another power
felt itself called upon TO msddle, she must
have free hand to bring 1t to a successful
issue. That is precisely the British view Of
fhe haefu of fho tfnr,pr Nile
The rumor from Paris Of the intention Of
the British government to declare Egypt
under the proteclorate OF Great Britain has