The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-25
GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ISSUES
 ANOTHER BLUE BOOK.

An Answer to the Yellow Book of
 France-saItsbury Says the Discussion
 The French Ambassador Was In
 formed by the British Premier That
 in Refraintng from Discussing the
 French Claims He "1Iust Not be Under-
 stood In Any Degree Admitting
 Their Validity"
 London, Oct 24.-The government is- sued another blue book tonight, the most important feature of which is a dispatch, dated October 12, from the Marquis of Salisbury to the British ann bassador at Paris, Sir Edmund Monson representing the previous interview with Baron de Courcel, in which the latter wished to ascertain what solu- tion of the question was possible and in which the Marquis of Salisbury says: 'I generally insisted that the Nile val ley had belonged and still belonged to Egypt, and that whatever diminution that title had suffered by the Mahdis conquest had been removed by the vic- tory at Omdurman."
 The Marquis of Salisbury then point ed out the helplessness of Major Mar chands position, which Baron de Cour- eel denied and finally the British pre- mier in response to Baron dc CourcePs suggestion, offered to supply Major Marchand with food and ammunition in order that he might be able to reach French territory. Baron de Courcel then said that France wanted an outlet to the Nile, and the Marquis of Salis- bury requested that the whole proposi- tion be made in writing. This was the last interview between the ambassador and the premier on this subject. Baron thought that the proposition which he brings tonight embodies the points in- dicated in this conversation.
 The Salisbury dispatch in conclusion said: "The extreme indefiniteness of Baron de Courcers propositions made it impossible for me to express or form an opinion relative to the territory claimed by France in the Bahr- FL Cha gal region. Under the circumstances the discussion has been fruitful of mis- apprehension. I informed him that it was in no way my duty to discuss the French claims now, but that in abstain ing therefrom I must not be understood as in any degree admitting their yaiid- ity'
 The blue book also contains interest ing letters from Moustapha Fehey, the regent of Egypt, to General Kitchener and Lord Cromer, the British diplo- matic agent, showing Egypt's attitude. He wrote to General Kitchener warmly thanking him for taking possession of Fashoda and thereby reconquering for Egypt the provinces which assure her existence and from which she only re- tired provisionally. The regent in writ ing to Lord Cromer protested against sthe French violation of Egyptian ter ritory," adding that Egypt had never lost sight of the reoccupation of the provinces of the Soudan which are the actual sources of the vitality of Egypt and from which she only withdrew to force majour. He also said that the re- conquest of Khartoum would fail to have its effect if the valley of the Nile was not restored to Egypt.
 Moustapha Fehey concluded with re- ferring to the Anglo-French discussion on the subject of Fashoda, urging Lord Cromer to use his good offices with the Marquis of Salisbury ''in order that the incontestable rights of England may be recognized and that all the provinces occupied up to the rebellion of Moha- med Ahmed be restored to her. The British cabinet council has been fixed for Thursday next.