Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-20
PLAIN TALK BY BEACH
Brings Nearer the War Cloud
That Now Lowers Over
France and England.
MAROHAND MUST vAoATEFAsHoDA

| Or the War Dogs VIII BE Let Loose, Il
the Dictum of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer-situation Is Very Grave Be-
tween the Two Nations-Russia Makes
Another Aggressive Move in China to
John Bulls Disadvantage.
London. Oct. -2O-Sir Michael Hicks
| Beach, chancellor OF the exchequer.
| speaking at North Shields last evening
regarding the Fashoda question. said
| he wished cordially to acknowledge the
| desire evidenced in the speeches of Lord
Rosebery and Herbert Asquith to help
the government in the matter. "a mat
ter which might develop to the utmost
gravity" 1T is impossible" he con-
tinued. for France to maintain that
she had political rights at Fashoda. She
has naturally and properly asked for
time to receive Major Marchand's re-
port, but until the contrary is proved
/ decline to believe that France Will
refuse to withdraw. If she refused the
matter would assume an aspect as
grave as is possible between two great
nations.
John Bulls Foot Is Down.
THE government is animated by the
friendliest spirit towards France, and
does not wish to infiict humiliation.
work in Egypt is not completed. Africa
is big enough for us both-for France
in the west and ourselves in the east
Surely we ought to be able to agree to
respect one another's right and claims.
1 hope, trust and believe the question
is capable of a friendly solution, but this
country has put her foot down. If un-
happily another view should be taken
by France the queens ministers know
nj M hea
a great calamity if after peace for up
ward of eighty years our friendly rela-
tions should be disturbed and we should
be launched into a great war; but
there are greater evils than war; and
we shall not shrink from anything that
is coming, knowing that we are sup
ported by a united people,"
France Getting Ready for War.
This speech has deeply impressed
England, and the utmost concern is felt
as to how France will receive it. The
idea has been prevalent that the French
have not realized how seriously Eng
land felt on the Fashoda question.
which has been coupled with a desire
that France should not force England to
an armed support of Lord Salisbury's
stand. Most of the papers elaborate
some of the excited descriptions of the
belligerent preparations of France. The
says: "In Toulon and Brest every nerve
is strained to get ready for war which |
may break out on short notice. The |
Paris press is growing more and more |
determined to back up extreme meas |
ures, even a resort to arms. The French |
have been excessively piqued by the |
threatening tone of the English papers,
which is a more likely casus belli than |
the mere question of Fashoda.
Declares the OutIOoIx Is Grave
Consequently the outlook here is |
grave. There are reports of troops hur- |
rying from Paris to Brest and Toulon. |
The artillery in the batteries and at /
the various ports have been confident
tally instructed for any emergency, and /
the cannon at all the forts and bat
teries are kept ready for action at any
moment"
The Paris correspondent of The Stand
ard says: IF England keeps on saying
that Marchand must go, France will |
reply that Marchand will stay; and il
he be removed forcibly there can be
little doubt as to what the consequences
will be-" Some of the more conservative
organs. notably The Times. practically
ignore the French movements and de-
cline to perceive any war cloud. The
Daily Chronicle remarks: "Sir Michael |
Hicks-Beach has been at il again. He
is dangerously man. He has honesty