The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-13
ENGLAND AND FRANCE
Lord Rosebery's Speech on the
Fashoda Controversy. ..s..
He ANTICIPATES NO CONFLICT.
But the Eek. x.Premler Declares That Ma.
tions That Imagine That England Has
Weakened ''Make q Nj Is AXE That Can
Only End In Dlsaster.o

Weakened ''Make a Nj Mistake That Can
Only End In Disaster.'
London, Oct. 13.-Lord Rosebery, the
Liberal leader and former premier, pre-
siding yesterday at an agricultural dim
ner at EPSON, referred to the critical
situation on the Upper Nile. He said:
"As was responsible. both personally
and ministerially, for the declaration
of Sir Edward Gray, on which the pres
ent policy in regard TO Fashoda is
founded, and as l have no disposition
to recede from word or a syllable of
that declaration, feel bound to say
few guarded and, hope, inoffensive
words on subject so vital to our in
terests.
There are two or three considera-
tions in connection with the question
which make it of supreme gravity. the
greatest being that, in face of a de-
liberate warning that particular act
would be considered an unfriendly act,
that act, In spite of great geographical
difficulties. great hardships and almost
insurmountable obstacles, had been de-
liberately committed.
1.-THE word 'unfriendly.' when used
automatically is of exceptional weight
and gravity, and when used to denote
an act committed by one government
against another the situation is grave
On that point I will say no more Be-
hind the policy of the government in
this matter there is the untiring and
united strength of the nation. 1t is
the policy of the nation itself. which
no government that attempted to re-
cede from 1t or palter Herewith would
last a week. I am perfectly certain
that no idea of weakening on this uues-
tion has entered the heads of her mai
esty's present advisers They have only
to maintain the attitude revealed in the
blue book, and the nation will make
any sacrifice and go to any length to
sustain their action.
ION the other side of the channel the
question of the flag is an event of great
gravity. We all honor that flag and
would not wish 1t the slightest disre-
spect. But, after all, flag is portable
and I have some hope that the flag in
this case is not the flag of France, but
of an individual explorer, and not,
the republic behind 1t.
AHiohS tHe fedSSurlnS features Is
the fact that M. Delcasse (the French
minister of foreign affairs) has received
the representations of Great Britain in
conciliatory spirit. By denying the
existence Of a Marchand mission he
has deprived Major Marchand of the
official character which would give the
hosting of the flag much more seri-
Gus aspect. And in spite of the con-
trary statements of Captain Liotard
and Major Marchand I hope to find
that the mission of Major Marchand,
conducted far from French territory
and across territory to which France
has no claim, though other nations
have, will prove to be Of local and
of an authoritative character.
But l found still great hopes upon
the fact that in urging the supremacy
of Egypt in the territories temporarily !
abandoned we are using not so much |
our own arguments as the arguments |
OF French ministers and ambassadors |
OF recent years. If Lord Salisbury and |
Sir Edward Monson. respectively. use
the language employed by M. Hano-
taux and Baron De Courcel when was
in office they will put the claims of
Egypt to these territories in a manner
50 authoritative that it will not be in
the power Of any government to re-
pudiate them"
After mentioning the untenability of
Major Marchand's isolated position
Lord Rosebery said:
"These considerations lead me to hope
hat the incident will be pacifcally set
led in conciliatory manner, but
france must understand that there can
De no compromise of the rights of
Egypt"
Referring, in concluding his speech,
o the general disposition in recent
'ears to infringe upon Great Britain's
lights in various parts of the world"
lis lordship said:
IF the nations of the world are
lnder the impression that the ancient
pirlt of Great Britain is dead. that her
esources are weakened, and that her
opulation is less determined than ever
maintain her rights and the honor
T her flag, they make a mistake that
an only end in disastrous confagra-
on."