The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-12
SURE FRANCE Is RIGHT.
But Might Seems to Be on the Side of
Great Britain.

Paris Oct. 1.-THE government has
been informed that its dispatch to
Major Marchand, forwarded by the
courtesy of the British government
through the sirdar has already been
delivered, and that Major Marchand is
sending an officer with his reply to
Cairo, hence it will be telegraphed to
Paris, probably arriving early next
week. The extremist papers are MAX
ing strong efforts to excite public opin-
ion against Great Britain, but it is be-
lieved in the best informed circles that
Major Marchand will be authorized to
return by way of Cairo.
The Eclaire remarks:
I'VE have always protested against
Great Britains idea that the whole
basin of the Nile was included in
Egyptian or British influence. Effective
occupation alone cOnfers the right of
possession. The right is on our side and
we hope our diplOmatists will compel
respect for it,
The Paris newspa pers this morning
discuss the FaShOda question, pointing
out the strength of Frances position
and the facts on which her claims are
based. They express confidence that the
question will be amicably settled in
way satisfactory to everybody and urge
that this will be facilitated if the news
papers of the two countries do all they
can to calm the emotions of public
opinion.
I'VE have been literally subjected to
an ultimatum threatening war on the
Marchand question. The ultimatum
was in the report of the Brit
ish ambassador or on his lips. For
tunately the document was not pro-
duced and the word was not spoken.
We should be grateful for the skill OF
NJ. Delcasse (the minister of foreign af-
fairs) in preventing the delivery of the
ultimatum and to the honesty and up
rightness of the British ambassador In
a critical juncture-
After concentrating the French min
,f a IelCaSSe.
ION his mastery parrying OF the Brltlsh
demand the Temps expresses the nope
that everything will be amicabIy ar
ranged. concluding;
I'm any case M. Delcasse can rely on
the same support in France as the Eng
lish promise the marquis of Salisbury
in Great Britain
tin. who generally echoes the opinions
of the French embassy at the British
capital, admits that the evidence sup
ports the truth of the reports as to the
desperate condition in which Gen. kltch-
ener found Major Marchand ana as to
the latter's almost utter lack of sup
plies of any kind.
TT is probable that Major Marchand
confessed his inability to retain the po-
sition even if not handicapped by the
presence of the British and the derV1sh~
es. 1t is. however, out of the question
that Marchand should accept the British
offer, courteous though it be, to pro-
vide him transportation to Cairo. If he
admits the impracticability of remain
ing at Fashoda, he ought to fall back
to his former post in Bahr-Et-Gha-
zal
I'm such an event France could nego-
tate with Great Britain to enable her to
revictual and reinforce Major March
and by the only possible route, namely,
the Nile.
whatever may be the developments
of the situation, however, France must
not abandon her rights to have an out
let by the Nile, for the commerce of her
African possessions