New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-10
THE NILE VALLEY BRITISH
LORD SALISBURY TAKES A DETERMINED
STAND.
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENTS BETWEEN THE
FRENCH AND ENGLISH GOVERNMENTS
REGARDING THE MARCHAND Ex-
petition.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH GOVERNMENTS
REGARDING THE MARCHAND EN-
petition
| London. Oct 9-The Foreign Office has issued
Fasnoda Blue Book giving the correspondence
between the French and British Governments
| Il begins with dispatch dated December 10.
1897 from Sir Edmund Monson. British Ambas-
| sador at Paris, TO Lord Salisbury referring 10
ruInors of the massacre OF the Marchand ex-
| pedition and expressing the Ambassadors salts
| faction that he has been allowed to acquaint
NJ Hanotaux French Foreign Minister Of that
day) with Lord Salisbury's view that. II 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, however. that the Ambas-
| sador made it clear that this concession must
| not be understood admitting the right OF any
European Power except Great Britain to occupy
| any part Of the Nile Valley.
NJ Hano,aux replied December "A IN
long dispatch OF respectful protest against Lord
Salisburys view.
On August . of this year Lord Salisbury
wrote Lord Cron1er, British Diplomatic Agent al
Cairo giving him instructions that after the
capture Of Khartoum two fotillas should ascend
TO Fashoda and go up the Blue Nile as far as
It should prove navigable for steamers Under
these instructions the Sirdar personally to
command the Fashoda notilla and to take few
troops II he should consider it desirable the OBJ
iect being 10 assert Great Britains sphere OF IN
fuence in the Nile Valley.
On September Sir Edmund Morson reported
10 Lord Salisbury conversation IN which NJ.
Delcasse. French Foreign Minister. announced
that Marchand had no authority to decide on
questions Of right and had been Instructed TO
abstain from any action likely to lead to iocai
conflict Mr DelCasse further expressed con-
viction that the matter was susceptible of ar
rangement by means of discussion.
To this Lord Salisbury replied on September
Q that Great Britain regarded the operations OF
the sirdar (Ceneral Kitchener as placing all
the territories Of Khalifa Abdullah by right Of
| conquest in the hands of the British and Egyp-
tian Governments, and insisted that this con-
tention admitted Of no discussion
| Then folor, various dispatches recording the
discussions between Sir Edmund Monson and NJ.
Decasse the latter explaining that Marchand
was now virtually q lieutenant to the Lotard
| expedition, and that therefore. the situation at
Fashoda even II Msrchand were there could
not be dangerous. as Sir Edmund Mohsoh hau
represented. ,,,
On September 15-stin following the Blue
Book--the Sirdar reported the results OF ms eA-
petition tC Fashoda, fully connrnine lhe an
nouncements already cab.ed to The Associated
Press including the fact that General hltcn-
eners arrival there prevented second DerVish
attack on Marchand. The frencn I,,Sad oli,CSl III
formed the Sirdar that he had concluded a
treaty which he had sent TO France Tor ratlhca-
ton. whereby the Shillook chiefs had paceu tIIe
country under French protection. harChdhu re-
Piled in the negative TO General hltcnehei
question whether he was prepared 10 resist tlle
koistng Of the Egyptian flag. but ne inalHt@aILsu @
that he had orders rom the fpeHon 6onort,re Of
ment to occupy Fashoda. on the uepal'ule %
the British forces General Kitchener gave no,
tce to Major Marchand in writing that an
transportation Of war material on the Nile was
absolutely prohibited.
The sirdar's dispatch concludes as follows:
"The chief Shillooks came TO our camp ano
positively denied that they had conciuded any
treaty with Marchand, while all the ShllooKs
declared their allegiance TO the British Govern
ment Moreover, Marchand was in such pre-
carous position that nothing could nave pre-
vented his annihilation by the Dervishes had
we been a fortnight later in crushing the
Khalifa"
| Other dispatches indicate that NJ Delcasse
declined Great Britains request for the mmedi-
ate recall of Major Marchand. and that Great
Britain agreed 10 dispatch message for the
French Government to Marcband as a matter
Of courtesy without accepting any responsible
~ for the results delay might entail. and still
maintaining that the matter admitted Of no
cOuprOmise
In the final dispatch appearing in the Blue
Book Lord Salisbury. under date Of october 3.
instructs Sir Edmund MOnson 10 inform NJ.
Delcasse that the latters message 10 Major
Marchard has been sent but that Great Brit
ain views the MarcEand mission having no
political significance whatever
London. Oct 10--An the morning papers ap-
plaud Lord Sasburys lrmness in the Fashoda
question and the fact that he has approved all
The doings Of General Kitchener.
The Times" says: While not despairing Of
an amcable settlement. we cannot but think the
situation extremely grave. Lord Salisbury has
taken UP position from which retreat is I'M
M "a ~
The Daily Chronicle thinks the situation
only grave on paper and not in reality"
THE Daily News says: I'VE hope Lord Sails
bury will bn able to provide golden bridge for
NJ DelcaSs."