The Portland daily press., 1898-07-30
THE BRITISH IN WEST AFRICA

1dE 0hl I1Sn I'm Who4 Al IslCd'
Advantage is being taken of the settle
ment of our dispute with France concern
ing the Niger to reorganize the admins
tration of the British possessions in West
Africa. AS We announced on Tuesday,
negotiations are proceeding for the trans
ference Of the Niger Company's territories
to the imperial government. This step
implies no sort of censure Of the council
of the company, which has done work
which the government itself could not
ton stage has passed, and the time come
for tho withdrawal of the charter. This
action is looked upon as inevitable; and
has in fact. been under consideration since
May last year. Various methods proposed
for avoiding this drastic measure have
been considered and rejected. There was
suggestion that the government should
place director on the board of the com.
pany, but this plan did not met with the
approval of Lord Salisbury. Another So
luton proposed was the withdrawal of
the company from the trade. making it,
like the East India Company in its last
years, purely an administrative body.
This course might have proved accepta-
bic to Sir George Goldie-who has over
and over again proved his high capacities
for governing-but would have raised
| many thorny questions at home The
third alternative that the company
should continue its trading operations but
resign IT'S executive and judicial func-
tions. did not find favor with the council
of the company and 1T has been finally
decfl to withdraw the charter altogeth-
er, and the company, which has played
an important and benefcent part in the
history of British West Africa, will cease
to exist. This announcement will be re-
csived with extreme regret, as it Is feared
it will Involve the loss of the services OF
Sir George Goldie, the founder ana gov
ernor of the company, stateSman whose
valuable work for the empire has been
recently recognized by his admission to
the Privy Council.
win be made 1t 10 not now necessary to
enter. The Niger Company Is honorably
distinguished among the companies
which have obtained royal charters by the
regular publication of accounts and the
payment 6f dividends. Its commercial
policy has been assaulted, and 1t has been
unjustly accused of creating monopolies.
1t has, however, sought to amalagmate
all trading interests on the Niger, and
with success. Under the new admins
trations, and with all danger Of political
complications removed, q freer system of
competition will be encouraged. But
while the shareholders of the company
need have no tear as to the safeguarding
OF their interests, West African traders
fr,yve ,odo nvrlry
OF the new fiscal Arrangements. 1t Is
cause Of Irritation and confusion sthat at
present the three contiguous British pos
sessions OF Lagos. the under Niger Coast
protectorate. and Nigeria are under three
different administrations-Co lonial OfG,,
Foreign Office. and Chartered Company
and ID Is desired that this anomalous
state Of things should be reotifed. This
point and the delicate negotiations with
France concerning the frontiers OF cur
possessions, have delayed the decision OF
the question, a solution of which has at
length been found.
It Is Notorious that the novel task of
administration, undertaken by the For
eign Office, has not proved entirely sue
ceSsful. The Foreign Office trains di-
plomatists rather than administrators.
It's agents have produced remarkable re-
suits when they have worked through
native governments as is shown by Sir
John Kris record in Zanzibar, and Lord
Oromer' 9 in Egypt But in the task OF
direct government the record Of the For
eign Office is less brilliant. The condition
of British East Africa today will ssfve as
an illustration. Moreover, the Foreign
Office is not anxious to assume direct re-
sponsibility for the half-million square
miles comprised in the empires of ookto
and Bornu. An arrangement will, there
fore, in ell probability, be made whereby
colony, subject to the Colonial and not
the Foreign Office. ST. James's Gazette,