The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-11
ENGLAND AND FRANCE
What FaShoda is and What
Its Ownership Means.
WHILE THEY ARE SNARLING
Over That Bone Germany
lickS the Turkish Platter.

, mai n genius IOTSSdW anu IOSleISO NHlcL
on the one hand. ne encouraged the Brit
lsh 10 occupy Egypt, and on the other
urged Jules Ferry 10 seek compensation
for France n colonial Enterprises, havin
now reached the acute stage. its issue
whether it be peaceful one or not, viii
determine the relative position of the twc
Powers in the councils of Europe for a
considerable time 10 come.
Ii should be bcdne in mind that the din.
lomatic passes in which the two govern
ments are engaged are not so much with
d view to material advantages: The few
acres of swampy ground around Fashoda
would be ridiculous casus bel!i. II is
their moral prestige which is at stake, and
the political consequences of loss or gain
OF prestige England siezed the monen;
o. ner triumph at Khartum 10 wipe out
with one stroke. the unfavorable impres.
sion Of her repea ted concessions to France
IN other colonial disputes, by demanding.
rather premptorily. IN withdrawal of
Major Marchand. She hoped thus to put
an end, once and for all, to French pre-
| tensions to the valley of the Nile. and to
| rid herself definitely of vexatious inter-
NEEDING in Egypt. The British govern
ent therefore, spoke with firmness. in
deed. with a hauteur, which recalls the
| traditional, but long dormant, mode of
dealing Of the Foreign Office
For the matter of that, this was the first
available opportunity, for long time past
on which British ministers could conven-
iently revert to the old methods. For the
last twenty years there was apparant 4
latent but growing disposition on the part
OF most Continental Powers to sink their
mutual rivalries and prevent a more or
less united front whenever England found
hersef in opposition to one Of them In
these tactics. which made for a coalition.
Germany was the dominant and most
dangerous factor. Now, however. the con-
clusion Of the Anglo German convention.
still kept secret, but confined it is averred.
to colonial matters only though it may. in
form, cover no wider ground. has had. in
point of fact, a ost concilia ting effect on
public opinion in both countries. and is
apparently of such a nature as to reassure
the British government as to the attitude
or Germany in certain contingencies
Moreover. and what is even more import
ant, England now feels secure on her flank.
The very remarkable revulsion of public
feeling in America towards this. country
since the Spanish war, has added i'm
mensely both to its political influence in
Europe and the forces it can freely dis
pose of in case of war. Altogether Eng
land has not been, for many years past.
in as favorable position as at the present
moment, If she chooses to make her power
felt and her win respected.
The contrary was the case with France
when the present crisis broke out, a month
ago. The Dreyfus affair had just assumed
its ugliest aspect and had laid bare the
deep sores which had long been infesting
the supreme military council. The army
was ready to indulge, not in the brave old
sort of coup d'etat, traditional to France.
but in the baser kind Of Spanish pronun-
ciamiento. VI. Lockroy's Investigation
showed the French navy to be in a la
mentable condition of unpreparedness. to
say nothing of its backwardness in point
OF system and organization And the in
ternal political situation was such as to
policy. All these facts taken together
lowered the prestige of France, and at no
other time did she seem more likely 10
prove tactable TO demands such as that
IF England. which. moreover, had both
justice and reason on its side.
But what generally prevails in politics |
s the illogical and the inequitable. The
very fact that the internal situation was
unsatisfactory appeared to urge the Brjs- |
son MINISTRY TO seek relief and unanimitv /
at home. by presenting a bold front abroad. |
The achievement OF Major Marohand-ad- /
ntted on ali hands TO he one Of the most
'emarkable feats Of exploration-was il
self Of a nature 10 enlist admiration and /
But the most potent factor In /
the back Of the French govern
nent was the manifest disadvantage %
which Russia would have been reduced /
we're England 10 vii over France signal
diplomatic victory. The collapse of the
iual allience would inevitably have fo,-
owed. Count Muravief therefore. dur
ng his visit 10 Paris. while couneeuinE
and concfiattou in regard
o Fashoda itself. treasured NJ Derc-sse
Is TO the support Of Russia in respect Of
oCntervaihng claims on the part az
france.
such was the respective attitudes Of the
wo countries UP to yesterday evening. II
vas generally expected that The unaniuitv
With which the French press suppor.e4
he position taken hy NJ Delcasse would
ave saved the Prison cabinet. a. las.
ntil this question was decided. one wa,- /
r another. and that party passions would
e stlenced momentariiy IN The presence
Z an International crisis or the most se~-
1Cs kind. In France. however. the unex-
ected IS the rule in politics: and the de-
lorabel denouement ~ last night upsets
very rational calculation. Upon one as
ertion alone NAV one venture with soma
egree Of certainty. tha; he events N
rance are working in favor OF peace
o. indeed. for -he distracted countrvit-
81. but for The rest Of Europe: 50 long.
s least. as the ehu-Etion in France does
o; overflow its own borders.
L should not he supposed. however. tia,
he danger Of a rupture between France
nd England was really as inmirer. a.
appeared The rapid alienation Of b,ua
Nd yellow books containing DISPATCHES
almost OF he eve o. publics-
ION was an unusual proceeding in con-
&C. on With dip mate negotiations or
uch gravity. Bur this form Of new d.
lomacy' possesse5-at ,east in This funct-
Fe-an acvan'ase. II proved -,he wisdom
nd usefulness - tas governments taking
he pubic into their confidence. when. By
do'ng.they We're enabled 10 dispel dang
7ous Illusions. dissipa1e false rumorn.ana
ring 70 the conscience OF ne people n.
Anglers OF the situation.
To tbs mus b at.r.huted II. r-.s-..