The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-24
NO FOUNDATION FOR WAR
France Discredits Rumors OF
Strained Relations.
FASHODA YELLOW BOOK
As Marchsnd Reached Fashoda First,
England Has No Right to Demand
Evacuation Prior to Neeo-
tiations

T.-'s. Oct. pa semi-official note
issued this evening says: There is no
foundation for the alarmist rumors re.
garding the relations between France
and Great Britain. 1t is very incorrect
to say that extraordinary measures
have been taking place at any of our
naval portA"
The Fashoda yellow book Is volumin-
Gus. but IL not include Major Mar
chand's report. which will be published
later. The dispatches were largely an
ticipated by the English Fashoda blue
book.
On Sept. es NJ. Deicasse. the foreign
minister. informed the British ambas-
sador to France, Sir Edward Monson, in
explicit language that France did not
regard Lord Salisbury's claim to the
Soudan by virtue OF conquest as apply
ing to Fashoda, on the ground that the
Marchand expedition went to the relief
of the French expedition under Captain
Licolard. which dated from a period
long before the declaration in the house
of commons by Sir Edward Gray, un-
der secretary of state for foreign af-
fairs in Lord Rosebery's cabinet, as to
the policy OF the British toward the
Soudan and at time when the equa-
torial provinces were lost to civiliza-
tion. In fact. NJ. Delcasse argued, un-
less Great Britain possessed the sui
tan's mandate as well as the khedive's
TO acquire all former Egyptian prov
inces. France considered herself equal
ly entitled to possession of any point
occupied by French officers.
Judging from the yellow book dis
patches, the foregoing represents the
French standpoint. and Nj. Delcasse
contends that as Marchand reached
Fashoda first, England had no right to
command an evacuation of Fashoda
prior to negotiations.
On Sept. 80 NJ. Delcasse said to Sir
Edward Monson that such a demand
would be equivalent to an ultimatum,
and no one could doubt what would b>
the reply Of France to such a demand.
The subsequent dispatches appearing
in the yellow book relate to conversa-
tons between Baron de Courcel. French
ambassador I'm London. and Lord Sails
bury. the latter contending that the
capture of Khartoum was improbable
Lord Salisbury retorted that the French
forces in the regions referred to were
too weak to constitute effective occu-
patton.
A final dispatch dated Oct. 12 from
Baron de Courcel to NJ. Delcasse re-
cords n conversation with Lord Sails
bury In which the French ambassador
claimed access to the Nile through
Bahr- -El-Ghazel, and asked an amicable
elimination of the prospective spheres
or interest of the two powers. I'm reply
to which Lord Salisbury indicated that
II would be necessary for him to con-
suit his colleagues.
Baron Decourcel. having represented
that IL would be impossible for March
and to retire until IL was settled where
he should go and how the evacuation
was to be effected. Lord Salisbury.
after rejecting very seriously, said ne
was NOT sufficiently acquainted with the
geography OF Africa 10 reply for the
present regarding dellmitation, and that
moreover he could not enter into pro-
jects of that nature without consulting
his colleagues.
Baron de Courcel concluded the dis
patches OF Oct. IL by saying: II quilted
him on these explanations. which were
pronounced in a conciliatory and friend
|y tone"