The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-22
THE W EST AFRICAN CRISIS.
FRENCH ADMISSION THAI THE
TERRITORY rs BRIrIsH.

n b~ennt~Onctat Disclaimer Issued In Paris
~ChsnSsriain Tells tire Cornrsens ne nee,
Not believe Hrsnes Authorised the Iuvasien
Tho Times en- the Gravity Of the situstion.
Special Cable Dispatches to THE Sun.
LONDON, Feb. 21.-In the House Of Common
to-day the Government was Intercepted at
some length. the aim Of the questioner being to
draw out q definition Of British rights in the
disputed portion OF West Africa. Mr.. Cursor,
Under Foreign Secretary, refused to mako any
statement ut present. because the matter was
under discussion automatically.
Mr.. Chamberlain. Secretary of State for the
Colonies, read q telegram received from the
commandment at Lokoja, saying that four French
officers with 100 men had arrived at ArgunFa,
east Of the Niger and south Of the ~Saybarna
line. Mr.. Chamberlain, after reading the tele-
gram, added:
ment authorised the invasion Of our territory,
in which our rights have beon recognized by tho
French Government ITSELF"
A despatch from Paris TO the Chronicle says It
10 learned that outside events have not raised
the temperature OF the discussion Of the
West African Commission. The French maps
undoubtedly represent Sokoto as English. and
there is reason to believe that NJ. Hanotoux, tho
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, docs not dispute
the ownership. A quiet intlmation will shortly
be given to the French detaohments in that part
OF Africa to avoid certain territories on which
t appears they have trespasBed.
The papers are puzzled TO reconcile the tele.
gram read by Mr.. Chamberlain in the House Of
Commons from tho commandant at Lokoja with
the semi-ohicial despatch issued ct Paris. The
Times, referring to the former. says:
Statements of this kind are not lightly made
by responsible British officers nor made pub
lilo without good cause by British Statesmen.
Should the denial In the French note provo we'll
founded, the people of this country win ex-
p~erience q profound and genuine feeling Of TO-
liof, but at present they will not be disposed to
place much faith in an ambiguous declaration
conveyed through an informal channel.
1T would DO foolish to ignore the elements Of
danger which undoubtedly exist. Hardly any
thing could cause US as . nation greater
pain than q breach of the peaceful relations
so long maintained with our French neighbors,
but we cannot allow our plain rights to be over
ridden, and among our plain rights. by tho
unanimous Judgment Of tho nation. are our
rights to the territory French officers are said
now to have invaded. There can be no doubt
that the Government 10 fully alive to the i'm
port Of the intelligence from Lokoja and to
the extreme gravity Of the situation that must
arise IL the French Government does not offer
immediately comprehensivea and satisfactory as
surances In respect thereto"
GLASGOW, Feb. 2l.-There was o semi.panico on
the Glasgow Stock Exchange to-day. caused by
the news from West Africa Of the invasion of
sokoto by two French expeditions. The bears
are in complete control of the market.
PARIS, Fob. 2L.-A semi-offlcial note has been
issued denying that the French ave invaded
Sokoto. It declares that the story to that Of
feet IN o repetition of . that has lnlraady