The record-union., 1898-10-30
II Is Believed He Received a Hint to Leave
at Once for Cairo.
His Action Regarded as a Rift In
the Clouds Overhanging Anglo
French Relations, and at the
Same Time Prepares France for
the Eventual Withdrawal OF the
Whole Expedition.

Major Marchand at Khartoum, on MS
way to Cairo, with the portion OF nls
report which was not hnlSheo Wneh
Captain Baratier left Fashoda, Is re-
garded as a rift in the clouds over
hanging glo-French relations, Tor, In
spite of the semi official denial issued
in Paris that orders were sent 10 the
Major to go to Cairo, it is fully be-
lieved here that the French officer
would not be on his way to Cairo un-
less he had received a hint to that ef-
feet from the French Government, who
consider that his leaving Fashoda Will
take the sting out of the situation, and
al the same time prepare France for
the eventual withdrawal Of the whole
expedition, which now consists of seven
officers and 100 men.
The British view of this latest move
is that the Marquis of Salisbury and
his Ministers are delighted to afford
Maj Marchand the facilities for reach
ing Cairo. But they would hardly care
to send him back except in the capaci-
ty of a guest or scientific explorer. That
is to say, France will first have to re-
nounce her principal claims based on
his mission.
In the meantime in the voluntary re-
turn of Major Marchand, the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Del
Case, and the Government of France,
have got over a great difficulty from a
diplomatic amour propre point of view.
NJ. Del Casse had declared that the
French Government could not do the
impossible, that is to say, recall Major
Marchand. Therefore the latter's return
has enable the French Government to
save it's face" as the saying goes.
1t is recognized, however, that even
If the tri-color of France is hauled
down at Fashoda, the main subject Of
dispute remains, and may cause anx-
1ous moments in both countries before
the Bahr-el- Ghazal question is settled,
although there has been a confident
feeling for the last few days that war
will be averted. The French ministerial
crisis at first increased the feeling of
activity which prevailed as to the pros
poets of a peaceful solution; but in the
list of its Ministers British newspapers
see a body of experienced and capable
. men who are able to lead French opin-
ion. The retention of NJ. Del Casse at
the head OF the Ministry of Foreign AT
fairs, however is not regarded favor
ably as he is the father of the Mar
chand adventure.
An instructive account of the origin
of the whole enterprise appears in a
Paris paper, La Journale," which
says the Marquis de Mores, the Anglo
phobe- French explorer who was as
Eassinated in the Hinterland of Algeria,
really conceived grandiose plans which
he submitted to M. Del Casse, who fell
in with his views and dispatched Major
Marchand to the Upper Nile, while de
Mores started for the Sahara, with the
avowed hope to conquer, with the CO.
operation of Marchand, the province of
? Bahr-el-GhaZal. The plan of campaign
included the organization of all the
armed peoples opposed to Great Brit
ain, and included even the CO.
operation Of the Khalifa, whose
forces, led by Frenchmen, would at
tack the British, and the Khalifa,
backed by the French explorers. would
thus interpose a buffer between Egypt
and Central Africa, thereby thwarting
the British aims. De Mores and his
party were massacred at the outset of
their journey, but Marchand succeed
ed In carrying out his part of the plan.
and there is reason to believe that the
French Government now wishes he had
not done So
As the ''Eclair" says to-day: Major
Marchand returning? Why, then, did
we go to Fashoda? In order to play the
game we played against the English.
We ought to have had a navy capable
of making a brave showing against the
English, Instead of which the fossils of
our Navy Department have left us in
capable of fighting with honor"
French newspapers seem to have lit
lie faith in Russia helping her ally in
the present crisis. while Russian dis
patches to the British papers affirm
positively that the Car is decidedly
opposed to war, and has counseIed the
French to abandon their untenable at
titude. 1t is even said that the Czar
has characterized the French attitude
as reckless
In the meanwhile military and naval
Preparations continue on both sides of
she channel. There was talk at Daven-
port to-day Of a flying squadron being
commissioned. But a reassuring fea-
ture is the departure of Sir William
Henry White, Director of Naval Con-
struction of the British navy, on two
months visit to Egypt. No extreme
measures therefore, are expected by
the Admiralty officials at the present
moment.
George Wyndham, Conservative mem.
Der OF Parliament for Dover, speaking
10 MS constituents, has made an inter-
esung comparison between British and
american aims. He says: I'm Egypt
w are actuated by the very same SEN
.iilehts which actuated America in the
1eceht war. In the case of the Philip
piifes, America could not tolerate the
SITUATION there, and having undertaken
q TASK she objected to being hampered
oy 1efnany, and so made it plain that
SINCE she Is engaged in a laudable en-
LeIpflse In a sphere in which another
Fo"er felt called upon to NEEDLE. she
must nave free hand to bring it to
successful issue This is precisely
the British view of the upper Nile"
Ihe rumor from Paris of the intention
of the British Government to declare
Egypt under the protectorate Of Great
Britain has attracted little attention as
the general feeling is that the moment
is clearly fnopportune for such a step.
1t would be only playing into the hands
of France. There is talk, however, of
Great Britain adopting extreme meas
ures toward the Khedive of Egypt. un-
less he modifies his attitude. It is well
known that he returns from each Of his