The record-union., 1899-03-26
Under the Agreement Between Great
Britain and France,
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Square Miles
Have Been Disposed OF.
Leaving Only Four Recognized In
dependent States Througnout
the Continent, Morocco, Abys-
innia, Liberia and the Orange
Free State.

LONDON, March pa red letter
page in the history of Africa was
turned this week when Great Britain
and France came to an agreement IN
parceling out the last portion OF Africa
still open to "grabbers." The agree
ment reached disposes of hundreds OF
thousands of square miles, leaving only
four recognized independent States
throughout the continent-Morocco'
Abysinnia, Liberia and Orange Free
State.
The settlement has given satisfaction
in Great Britain, where it is generally
considered fair for both parties, ard as
having especial value in finally avert
ing, as far as diplomatic documents
can, future disputes. Moreover, an I'M
portant feature of the agreement pro-
viding equality in the commercial treat
ment of the territory between Lake
Tchad and the Nile is that it does not
hamper Great Britain in the least, as
her trades system would have secured
the commercial rights of France, while
the French concession of equal rights
improves the English position. In the
face of French colonial protection this
is most valuable advantage for Great
Britain, which is fully appreciated here.
The reception Of the agreement by
Europe is decidedly favorable. The
Russians do not seem to care, the Ger
mans apparently hope for compensa-
ton elsewhere, and are not sorry to
see Frances hand full of colonial en-
barrassments. while France, except for
colonial faddists and inveterate Anglo
phobes, the majority are daZzled by the
empire secured to them, which they
picture to themselves as a second In
dia and they also heave a sigh Of re-
lief at the fact that the matter has
finally been adjusted.
One good result of the agreement is
seen in the announcement published in
the Echo de Paris" to-day of the sus-
pension of military defense for the
defense of Corsica, Algeria and Tunis,
and the return of the troops recently
sent to Algeria and Tunis and the coast
towns of France, owing to the tension
of the Anglo-French relations
Soudanese experts predict that the
French viii find they have a hornets
pest in the region around Lake Tchad
where several potentates hold sway
slave in Upper Egypt, who went west.
ward and carved an empire for himself
with his sword He is now styled the
African Napoleon" has an army OF
10000 men, and rules the territory
south of Lake Tchad. He is at logger
heads with the neighboring Sultan OF
Wadai, whose country is also included
in the French sphere, and who has
" 2 A10 fn11 H.
Senoussi, and whose troops are said to
be led by Europeans. Frances policy
is to foster the mutual hatreds between
Raheh and Wadai, but If this leads to
an attempt TO subdue either of them She
viii have a tremendous struggle before
her, especially in the case of Wadai, as
thousands of Senoussi live in Tunis and
Algeria, and would probably make COM
mon cause with their coreligionists in
Wadai, involving a confagration in
Frances North African possessions.
Slatin Pasha, in an interview, is
quoted as saying: Frances conquest
of her new protectorate will be very
difficult, and will entail many sacri-
fees"
The representative Of the Associated
Press has had an interview with Mgr
JoAihule, tflt HSW cOduJutOT OF CdIullldl
Vaughn, who has just returned from
Rome, and who had an audience with
the Pope week ago. They conversed
at length on important topics, his holi-
ness displaying his usual acuteness and
animated and varied thought. Mgr
Brindle says the Pontiff's eyes are like
those of boy in brightness, and that
he certainly is not suffering from any
mental deterioration. The Pope sat
down at mass, as usual, and intends to
take part in the celebration of April
18th.
A playful evasion Of his doctor
wishes is the occasion of much amuse-
ment to the household, and adds to the
view of the Vatican and of Cardinal
Rampolla, the Papal Secretary of State,
and others surrounding, that Leo XIII
VIII live ten years longer.
When questioned further on the sub
ject of the Pope's views, Mgr. Brindle
said his holiness looks upon the domes-
tic differences in the church in America
as sign of immense nervous vitality,
but as being in no way alarming. He
regards the future of the church in
America with hope in its unity, and as
a tower of strength in the universal
church.