The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-30
GERMANY LESS AGGRESSIVE
AND FRANCE SHOWING NO DESIRE
TO BURN HER FINGERS.
Disputes over African Territory Also
with King MeneIik.
(copyrIght. 1sgg By DE AgsoeIated Pressl


rerves of Great Britain. The Foreign and
Colonial Offices are beginning to see day.
light through the darkness which has long
been enveloping the far East west Africa
the upper Nile and India, and unless signs
fail and information from the best-informed
circles is faulty, the Marquis Of Salisbury
and Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of
state for the colonies, will divide the hon
ors and Great Britain will secure about all
she asks. So far as China is concerned,
this view, in connection with the speech of
Mr.. Curzon, the parliamentary secretary for
the Foreign Office, al Bolton, on Tuesday,
and the reported acceptance of the British
loan is generally regarded as correct Mr.
Curzon foreshadowed the probable success
of the loan negotiations, the achievement
of Great Britain's purpose III keeping the
ports free to the whole world and the MAIN
tenance of treaty rights whereby spheres
of influence are rendered impossible" The
Russian proposal of loan on the same
terms as Great Britain was not taken seri-
ously. 1t is understood that she has not
the money herself without drawing upon
her war reserve funds
France is daily showing less inclination to
burn it's fingers in game in which, even if
successful, Russia would be the only gainer
while Germany appears to have come COM
pletely around to the British side. Through
out, the situation has never been so alarm
ing as sensationalists attempted to paint it,
Hence the Czar's peaceful assurances and
Lord George Hamilton's statement in his
speech on Tuesday that relations with Rus
STA were entirely satisfactory will not have
surprised America.
Turning to West Africa, an official Of the
Colonial Office informs the Associated
Press that the impossibility of securing wit
nesses from the West Coast earlier is the
reason for the delay in the Paris negotia-
tions. Some of thdAmost important wit
nesses arrived only Ast week, and they
are now in Paris. Thus far all the British
demands have been conceded nominally and
professionally, pending the result of the
convention But Mr. Chamberlain is per-
fectly satisfied that the British claim will
be upheld, and that the French viii be con-
fined westward of line prolonged from the
present Lagos-Dahomey frontier to the
Niger and along the right bank of the
Niger to Say. In the meantime he does not
propose to risk being caught mapping by a
possible adverse decision of the convention
so he is pushing troops and supplies to the
front as rapidly as possible. A new regi-
nient of 1900 hussars has been enrolled at
Ibaden during the last few weeks, and de-
tachments will be sent to the front as soon
as the men become efficient.
In regard to the upper Nile the interest
iEg news which Mr. Curzon gave on Thurs
day, to the effect that the ratifcations of
the treaty between Great Britain and King
Menelik of Abyssinia have been exchanged
and that the government hopes shortly to
accredit direct representative at the
Abyssinian court, has given the greatest
satisfaction as helping to solve the ques-
tion of the upper Nile. The terms of the
treaty will not be divulged until it is pre-
sented to Parliament but the hints dropped
at the Colonial Office Indicate that the
agreement is based OH the principle that
friendly Abyssnia on the upper Nile is
preferable to hostile France Therefore
King Menelik will be allowed to crafty his
ambitions in the equatorial hinterland in
manner not interfering with the Anglo
Egyptian plans AS King Menelik is a.
trader as well as a warrior, the agreement
also contemplates assistance in opening up
the country, and it is understood the Brit
ish will acquire the right to traverse Abys-
sinia, and other advantages which will be-
come apparent as soon as Khartoum is re-
captured.
In the meanwhile young Henry Cayen-
dish, distant relative of the Duke of Dew
onshire, is preparing to start again for
equatorial Africa, accompanied by Lieut..
Andrews, eight brother officers and Mr..
Dodson, who was the companion Of DR..
Donaldson Smith, the American explorer
Mr.eCavendish will take with him four hun
dred armed men and number of rapid-fire
guns. AS his objective point is the juno
ton of the White Nile and the Sobat river
at Sobat, the purpose of the expedition, it
will readily be seen, is to cut off the French
from reaching Fashoda, which is only a
short distance north of Sobat. Possibly Mr..
Cavendish may be able to take advantage
of the new treaty with King Menelik and
get short cut through Abyssinia While
Mr.. Cavendish Is personally defraying the
cost of the expedition, it is known that he
has been in frequent communication with
the Marquis of Salisbury, through the Duke
of Devonshire so ii is safe to say the ex-
pedtion is under government auspices The
liberality and enterprise of the young ex-
plorer Che is said to be spending $500 coo Of
his own money in the venture besides Sc
curing substantial support from others)
have called forth happy congratulations
from the press