The Portland daily press., 1898-10-24

Fashoda Yellow Book Voluminous but
French Claim Based On Prior Occu-
pa,ion.
Pairs October 23-A semi official note
issued this evening says: "There is M
foundation for the alarmist reports re-
garding the relations between France and
Great Britain. 1t is equally incorrect to
say that extraordinary measures have
been taken at any of our naval ports. -
Ths Fashoda yellow book is yoluminous
but it does not include Major Marchand' 8
report which will be published. later. The
dispatches were largely anticipated by the
English Fashoda blue book.
The diplomatic conservations recorded
show curious endeavor on the French
side to represent that Marohand's mis-
sion was quite as important at Gen. Kit
chener's, on the ground that the struggle
was against the Khalifa and barbarism.
On September IS, NJ. Del Case, the
foreign minister, informed the British
ambassador to France, Sir Edmund Mon
son, in explicit Language that France
did not regard Lord Salisbury's claim to
the Soudan by virtue of conquest as ap-
plying to Fashoda, ,on the ground that the
expedition under Capt. Leotard which
dated from a period long before the
declaration of the House of Commons by
Sir Edward Grey, under secretary Of
state for foreign affairs in Lord Rose
berry's cabinet. as the policy of the Brit
jsh government toward the Soudan and
at time when the equatorial provinces
were lost to civilization. In fact III. De
Case argued unless Great Britain pos
sessed the Sultan's mandate as well as
the Khedive's to. Z acquire all sformer
Egyptian provinces, France considered
herself equally entitled with England to
possession of any point occupied by
French officers.
Judging from the yellow book des-
patches the foregoing represents the
French standpoint and NJ. Del Case con-
ends that as Marchand reached Fashoda
first, England has no righ5 to demand an
evacuation of Fashoda or to negotiations.
On September 80, M. Del Case declared
to Sir Edmund Monson that such de-
mand would be equivalent to an ULTIMA
tum, and while he could afford to sacrifice
frances material interests, SO long as
her honor was intact, for the sake OF the
Anglo French entente, no one could doubt
what would be the reply of France to
such demand.
nj IN
the yellow book, relate to conversations
between Baron De Courcel, French am
bassador in London and Lord Salisbury,
the latter contending that the capture OF
Khartoum entitled Egypt to possessions
of all the Mahdi's dominions, and the
French ambassador arguing that Major
Marchand had captured Fashoda before
Gen. Kitchener took Khartoum, and that
France had for long time held several
posts in the Bahr- Ell Gazal.
Lord Salisbury retorted that the French
forces in the regions referred to, were too
weak to constitute effective occupation.
A final despatch, dated October IL.
from Baron De Courcel to M. Del Case,
records conversation with Lord Sails
bury, in which the French ambassador
claimed access to the Vile through the
Bahr- Ell -Gazal, and asked an anicable
delimitaion of the respective spheres of
interest of the two powers. in reply to
which Lord Salisbury indicated that it
would be necessary for him to consult his
colleagues.
NGLAND EXPECTS PEACEFUL
SOLUTION.
London, October 23.-While the gravity
of the Fashoda question is fully appre-
ciated, there is an underlying feeling on
the stock exchange that a peaceful solu-
tion will be found. This is evidenced by
the recovery in prices, in spite of the ab-
sence of reassuring news On the whole,
prices were wonderfully we'll maintained
last week, holders showing little disposl-
ton to realize.
The steadiness of oonsols had good
effect, foreigners were tractionally lower,
but Americans exceptionally firm. prices
in many cases closing better, though un.
der the level of New York values. There
was no evidence of an American demand
for gold, New York apparently being a
lender here. Money was tight and III
strong demand.