Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-12
Ise2 7-dly
THE RIVALRY AT FAsHODA.
Great britain Asserts Exclusive
Rights 10 Occupy Nile Valley.

Rights 10 Occupy Nile valley.
LONDON. October 10.-The Foreign
Office has issued Fashoda Blue Book.
giving the correspondence between the
French and British governments.
Il begins with dispatch dated Deem
lsr 10 1897. from Str Edmund Monson,
British Ambassador at Paris, TO Lord
Salisbury. referring TO rumors of the mas
sacre Of the Marchand expedition, and
expressing the Ambassadors satisfaction
that no has been allowed to acquaint NJ.
Hanotaux French Foreign Minister OF
that day. with Lord Salisbury's view that,
II ether questions are adjusted, Great Bril-
tain will make no difficulty regarding the
French claim on the northern and eastern
shores Of Lake Tchad. The dispatch
shows. however, that the Ambassador
made It clear that this concession must
not be understood as admitting the right
of any European Power, except Great
Britain. 10 occupy any part Of the Nile
valley. NJ. Hanotau1 replied OH Decem-
her 2ith in a long dispatch of respectful
protest against Lord Salisbury's view.
on August "a OF this year Lord Sails
bury wrote Lord Cramer, British Diplo-
matte Agent at Cairo, giving him In
structions that, after the capture of
Khartoum, two fiotillas should ascend
10 Fashoda and go up the Blue Nile as
lar as it should prove nayigable for
steamers. Under these instructions the
Srdar was personally TO command the
Fashoda hotilla, and to take Few
troops. II he should consider II desirable,
the object being TO assert Great Britalns
sphere of influence in the Nile Valley.
On September 7th Sir Edmund Monson
reported TO Lord Salisbury conversation
In which NJ Delcasse, French Foreign
Minister, announced that Marchand had
no authority TO decide on questions or
right, and had been instructed TO abstain
from any action likely 10 lead TO local
conflict. NJ. Delcasse further expressed
a conviction that the matter was sus-
cepuble of arrangement by means of dis
Cussion.
DISCUSSION INADMISSIBLE.
To this Lord Salisbury replied on Sep
tember 9Th that Great Britain regarded
the operations of the Sirdar General
Kitchener as placing all the territories
OF Khalifa Abdulah by right or con-
Quest in the hands OF the British and
Egyptian governments, and insisted that
this contention admitted OF no discussion.
Then follow various dispatches record
Ing the discussions between Sir Edmund
Monsoon and NJ. Delcasse, the latter eX-
planning that Marchand was now virtu-
ally a lieutenant to the Letard expedl-
ton and that. therefore. the situation at
Fashoda. even if Marchand were there
could not be dangerous, as Sir Edmund
Mouson had represented.
On September 18th the Sirdar reported
the results of his expedition TO Fashodai
fully confirming the announcement al
ready cabled. including the fact that
General Kitcheners arrival there pre-
vented a second dervish attack on Mar
chand. The French officer informed the
Sudar that he had concluded a treaty
which he had sent 10 France for ratih-
cation. whereby the Shillock chiefs had
placed the country under French protec-
ton. Marchand replied in the negative
10 General Kitchener's question whether
La was prepared to resist the hoisting OF
tho Egyptian flag, but he maintained that
he had orders from the French Govern
ment 10 occupy Fashoda- On the de-
par1uTe Of the British forces, General
Kitchener notified Major Marchand IN
writing that all transportation of war
material on the Nile was absolutely pro-
hlbitsd. The Sirdar's dispatch con-
cludes as follows:
The chief Shillocks came to our camp
ana positively OeDleu tndl tneS Hdu Soii
cluded any treaty with Marchand, while
all The Shillocks declared their allegiance
10 the British Government. Moreover,
Marchand was In such a precarious po-
eition that nothing could have prevented
his annihiliation by the deryishes had we
been fortnight later in crushing the
Khslifa."
NO COMPROMISE
Other dispatches indicate that nj. Del
casse declined Great Britain's request for
the immediate recall of Major Marchand
and that Great Britain agreed to DIS
patch a message for the French Govern
ment TO Marchand as matter OF cour-
tesy. without accepting any responsibility
for the results delay might entail, and
stn maintaining that the matter al.
mittcd or no compromise. In the ma
dispatch appearing I'm the Blue-Book
Lord Salisbury, under date of october Sd
instructs Sir Edmund Monson to inform
~ Delcasse that the latter's message %
Major Marchand has been sent, but tha'
Great Britain views the Marchand mis-
sion as having no political significance
NJ