The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-24
II Is Fully Set Forth In the Yellow Book Just
Issued by Government
MAJ. MAUCHANO'S REPORT NOT IT.
II Is Claimed That as Marchand Reached Fashoda
First England Had no Right 10 Demand
the Evacuation Of the Place.

Paris, Oct. PA semi-officiaI note
says: There Is no foundation for the
alarmist rumors regarding the relations
between France and Great Britain. 1t
is equally incorrect 10 say that extraor-
dinary measures have been taken any
OF our naval ports"
The Fashoda yellow book is volumin-
pus, but IL does not include Major March
ands report. which will be published
later. The dispatches were largely an
ticipated by the English Fashoda blue
book. The diplomatic conversations re-
corded show a curious endeavor on the
French side TO represent that March
and's mission was quite as important
as General Kitchensrs, on the ground
that the struggle was against the
khalifa and barbarism. Sept IS MIR.
Deicasse. the foreign minister, informed
the British ambassador to France, Sir
Edmund Monson, In explicit language
that france did not regard Lord Sails
bury's claim TO the Soudan by virtue of
conquest as applying TO Fashoda, on the
ground that the expedition under Cap
tam Lieotard, which dated from a
period long before the declaration in the
house OF commons by Sir Edward Grey.
under-secretary OF state for foreign af-
fairs In Lord Rosebery's cabinet as to
the policy Of the British government
toward the Soudan and at a time when
the equatorial provinces were lost TO
CIVILIZATION. In fact Delcasse argued
that unless Great Britain possessed the
sultans mandate as well as the
khedlve's. to acquire all former Egyptian
provinces, France considered herself
equally entitled with England 10 possess
sion OF any point occupied by French
officers
Judging from the yellow book dis
patches. the foregoing represents the
French standpoint, and Mr.. Delcasse
contends that as Marchand reached
Fashoda first, England has no right TO
demand an evacuation OF Fashoda prior
10 negotiations. On Sept 30 Delcasse
declared to Mondon that such a demand
would be equivalent TO an ultimatum:
and. while he could afford TO sacrifice
Frances material interests, so long as her
honor was intact. for the sake of the
Anglo French entente, no one could
doubt what would be the reply of France
10 such demand. The subsequent dis
patches appearing in the yellow book re-
late to conversations between Baron
Courcel, French ambassador in London.
and Lord Salisbury, the latter contend
ing that the capture of Khartoum en-
titled Egypt to possession of all the
mahdfs dominions. and the French am
bassador arguing that Major Marchand
had captured Fashoda before General
Kitchener took Khartoum. and that !
France had for a long time held several |
posts in the Bahr-el- -Gazal Lord Sails
bury retorted that the French forces in |
the regions referred TO were too weak TO |
effective occupation.
A final dispatch. dated Oct 10. from |
Baron Courcel to Mr.. Delcasse, records |
a conversation with Lord Salisbury, in |
which the French ambassador claimed
access TO the Nile through the Bahr-el-
Gazal and asked an amicable delimita-
ton of the respective spheres OF interest |
OF the two powers in reply to which |
Lord Salisbury indicated that il would
be necessary for him to consult his coll
leagues.