The San Francisco call., 1899-03-26

turned TINS week Wn6n GreaC
Il Britain and France came to an
agreement in parceling out the
last portion of Africa still open to
"grabbers." The agreement reached
disposes of hundreds of thousands of
square miles, leaving only four recog-
nized independent states throughout
the continent-Morocco, Abyssinia, Lii
IBERIA and the Orange Free State. The
settlement has given satisfaction in
Great Britain, where it. is generally
considered fair for both parties and as
having especial value IN finally avert
ing, as far as diplomatics documents
can, future disputes. Moreover, an
important feature Of the agreement
providing equality in the commercial
treatment of the territory between
Lake Tchad and the Nile is that 1t does
not hamper Great Britain in the least,
as her free trade system would have
secured the commercial rights of
France, while the French concession of
equal rights improves the English po
sition. In the face of French colonial
protection this is a most valuable ad-
vantage 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-
tion elsewhere and are not sorry to see
Frances hands full of colonial en-
barrassments, while in France, except
for colonial faddiSts and inveterate
AnglOphobes, the majority are dazzled
by the empire secured to them, which
they picture TO themselves as a second
India, and they also heave sigh OF
relief at the fact that the matter has
finally been adjusted.
AS the Spectator remarks: only
French Anglophobes are discontented.
and they can only complain that the
English have given away what they
do not possess. This criticism is quite
true, but Europe has been doing that
in Africa for twenty years, and is go
ing TO do the same in China. If
Europe and America have not grad
ual suZerainty over the world all their
proceedings are a huge Dacoitry; but
then they affirm, and. when necessary,
enforce their suzerainty."
The French Government is carrying
the bill to a ratification, and it is eX-
pected that it will be voted on by the
Chamber of Deputies on Monday. NJ.
Del Casse. the French Minister of
Foreign Affairs, counts on good ma
jority.
One good result of the agreement is
seen in the announcement published in
the Echo de Paris to-day of the sus
pension of a military defense for the
the defense of Corsica, Algeria and
Tunis. and the return of the troops re-
Gently sent 10 Algeria and TUniS and
the coast towns of France, owing to
the tension of the Anglo-French rela-
tions.
Soudanese experts predict that the
French will find they have a hornets
nest in the region around Lake Tchad
where several pOtentateS hold sway.
The leading ruler is Raheh, formerly
slave in Upper Egypt, who went
westward 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 ter
ritOry southwest of Lake Tchad. He
is at loggerheads with the neighboring
Guided in the French sphere and who
has nearly 5000, 000 followers among,
the 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. and especially in
the case of Wadai, as thousands of
Senoussi live in Tunis and Algeria, and
would probably take common. cause
with their coreHgiOnists in Wadai, in
volving a cOnfagration in Frances
North African possessions.
SIatin Pasha, in an interview, is
quoted as saying: Frances conquest
Of her new prOtectOrate will be very
difficult and will entail many sacri-
fcas -