The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-10
WARNING FROM JULES MELTNE
FRENCH REPUBLIC IMPERILED nv
AGITATION AND STRIKES.
Divided state of the Country Viewed
with Alarm by the Former Pre-
mier-TrOOps Massing at Paris.


issued Fashoda bluebook giving the cor
respondence between the French and Brit
ish governments. 1t begins with a dispatch
dated Dec. 10. 1897, from Sir Edmund Mon
son, British ambassador at Paris, to Lord
Salisbury. referring to rumors of the mas
sacre of the Marchand expedition and ex-
pressing the ambassadors satisfaction that
he has been allowed to acquaint NJ Hano-
taux, French foreign minister of that day,
with Lord Salisbury's view that If other
questions are adjusted Great Britain will
make no difficulty regarding the French
claim on the northern and eastern shores
of Lake Tchad. The dispatch shows, how
ever, that the ambassador made it clear that
this concession must not be understood as
admitting the right of any European power,
except Great Britain, to occupy any part
of the Nile valley. NJ. Hanotaux replied on
Dec "a in long dispatch of respectful
protest against Lord Salisbury's view.
On Aug. of this year Lord Salisbury
wrote Lord Cramer. British diplomatic
agent at Cairo, giving him instructions that
after the capture of Khartum two fotillas
Blue Nile as far as it should prove navi-
gable for steamers. Under these instruc-
tions the sirdar was personally to COM
mand the Fashoda fiotilla and to take few
troops If he should consider it desirable, the
object being to assert Great Britains sphere
Of influence in the Nile valley.
On Sept Sir Edmund Monson reported
10 Lord Salisbury conversation in which
NJ. Delcasse, French foreign minister. an
nounced that Marchand had no authority
to decide on questions of right and had been
instructed to abstain from any action likely
to lead to local conflict. M. Delcasse
further expressed a conviction that the
matter was susceptible of arrangement by
means of discussion.
To this Lord Salisbury replied on Sept.
that Great Britain regarded the opera
tions of the sirdar General Kitchener) as
placing all the territories Of Khalifa Alb
dullah, by right of conquest, in the hands
or the British and Egyptian governments.
and insisted that this contention admitted of
no discussion. Then follow various dis
patches recording the discussion between Sir
Edmund Monson and NJ. Delcasse the lat
ter explaining that Marchand was now vir-
tually a lieutenant to the Lotard expedi-
ton, and that therefore the situation at
Fashoda. even if Marchand was there, could
not be dangerous, as Sir Edmund Monson
had represented.
On Sept. 25, still following the blue book,
the sirdar reported the results of his. ex-
pedition TO Fashoda, fully confirming the
announcements already cabled, including
the fact that General Kitchener's arrival
there prevented a second Dervish attack on
Marchand The French officer informed the
sirdar that he had concluded treaty, which
he had sent TO France for ratification.
whereby the Shlock chiefs had placed the
country under French protection. March
and replied IN the negative TO General
htcheners question whether he was pre-
pared to resist the hosting of the Egyptian n
flag. but he maintained that he had orders
from the French government to occupy
Fashoda.
On the departure Of the British forces
General Kitchener notified Major March
and in writing that all transportation of
war material on the Nile was absolutely
prohibited. The sidars dispatch concludes
as follows: THE chief Shillocks came to
our camp and positively denied that they
concluded any treaty with Marchand, while
all the Shillocks declared their allegiance
TO the British government. Moreover,
Marchand was in such a precarious posi-
ZION that nothing could have prevented his
annihilation by the Dervishes had we been
fortnight later in crushing the Khalifa -
Other dispatches indicate that NJ Delcasse
declined Great Britain's request for the
immediate recall of Major Marchand. and
that Great Britain agreed to dispatch a
message for the French government to
Marehand as a matter of courtesy without
accepting any responsibility for the results
delay might entail, and still maintainine
'hat the matter admitted of no compro-
mise.
In the final dispatch appearing in the b,uA
DOOR, Lord Salisbury, under date OF Oct .
lhstructs Sir Edmund Monson to inform M
Deicasse tnat the latter's message to Ma ior
Marchand has been sent. but that Great
britain views the AIarchand mission az
having no political significance whatever
All the morning papers applaud LORD
5alisbury's firmness in the Fashoda ones
tion and the fact that he has approved all
the doings Of General Kitchener. The Times
says: While not despairing of an amicabIe
settlement; we cannot but think the sit
uation extremely grave. Lord Salisbury has
taken up position from which retreat Is
impossible after the publication of the blue
book"
The Daily Chronicle thinks the situation
only grave on paper. and not in reality"
The Daily News says: I'VE hope Lord
Salisbury will be able to provide a golden
bridge for M. Delcesse"
The KhnIifa's Treasure Not Found.
CAIRO. Oct. 9.-The report that the
treasure Of the Khalifa, valued at e1oOoo.- :
w sS0Ooo0oo0) had Gecn found and was be-
ing forwarded to casfo IS without founda-