Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-08
GREAT BRITAIN
AND FRANCE
Madagascar and Egypt Put
Forward as Irritants.
THE TENSION INCREASING
Public Opinion In England Will Not
Sanction swerving am Inch TO
Avoid wnr-A quiet but Tscninrk.
able Pronouncememta nj Ikhartoum
New scheme or Cecil Rhodes tm
Africa without LEADERS.
Copyright, 1899. The Associated Press,

Copyright 1899. The Associated Press
London, January All events seem
to work together in European politics
to increase the tension between Great
Britain and France. The past week
has brought Madagascar and Egypt
forward as irritants. just when the
mutual irrltability was subsiding. Even
the most conservative Observers begin
to take a pessimistic view of the rela-
tions between the two powers. This
includes those who up to the present
have considered the belligerency TO be
mere talk, MISREPRESENTATION up
on the part of France and to unneces>
sary gruffness on the part of Great
Britain in insisting upon what she
considers to be her rights. On the other
side, France seems to foster the grow
ing belief that Great Britain is deter
mined, under some pretext to force her
into war, and is willing to make q pre-
text II no plausible excuse arises. On
the other side, a large party of the
British public profess that their pa
thence has been strained beyond endu-
rance by what they deem to be the
unvarnshed dishonesty of French d.
plomacy.
MADAGASCAR BLUE BOOK.
The past twenty-four hours brought
the publication of the Madagascar
blue book, which was followed by a
leading editorial in the Times denounc-
Ing France in language so fiery for
thM conservative newspaper that
Frenchmen are reading the two to.
Eether- and Df1a
parts of n deliberate policy inspired
by one mind. That mind, In the theory
OF the man In the street, is Mr. joseph
chamberlain. the Secretary Of State
Tor the Colonies. Other papers may
storm and scold and are not noticed
but when the Times becomes abusive
foreigners interpret it as being the
voice OF the government. In the Dres-
ent instance some Englishmen will
place the same construction upon ills
utterances, recalling how the Times led
Inc no surrender cry over the Fas,
nouh incident, under evident insDira-
tloh. one fact is certain, public opin-
ION IN Great Britain will not sanction
the government to Swerve an inch tn
h'oid war with France thinking that
IL IL must come this is the best limo
to have it out
SIGNIFICANT CONDOLENCES
Many people give Importance to the
issue Oh the Madagascar blue book al
most simultaneously with the quiet but
unmlstakable pronouncement at Khar-
toun. by which the British agent there.
Viscount Cromer, in his remarks to The
Sheikhs announced that Great Britain
mas set her seal on Egypt. If there ever
was a doubt in the minds of her Euro
pcan rivals that Great Britain intended
10 close the mortgages upon which she
mas expended so much labor and blood
rest by the utterances of Lord Cromer.
in which the word ''prutectorare-' was
written in large letters. though the gov
ernments mouthpiece carefully alb
stained from using that incendiary
word. more definite notice that
Great Britain's tenure of Egypt Is per-
manent could not be asked. This for
NAL assumption of sovereignty over the
Scudan Is more distasteful to France
than to any other nation and renewed
protests may be expected.
MIR. CECIL RHODES SCHEME.
In the meantime another enterprise
of the utmost moment in the further
ance of Great Britain's domination in
Africa is about to be conSummated. Mr..
Cecil Rhodes, the former premier of
Cape Colony, alleged instigator of the
jameson raid and so-called Napoleon
of South Africa" is going to England
to arrange for pushing forward the
Cape To Cairo Railroad. so long the
dearest dream of the imperialist a
definite proposition will be presented
by Mr.. Rhodes to London capitalists for
an extension of the railroad from Bula-
wayo to Lake Tanganyika. He does
not pretend it will be a paying invest
ment from the start.
Its Importance for some years vii,
be political, instead of commercial,
and he hopes; To persuade the British
Government to smooth the way by
guaranteeing three and n half per cent
interest on the bonds to cover the
cost of construction. But, one barrier
stands in the way, in the form of the
Congo convention guaranteeing the
neutrality of the part of the CONT
nent about Lake Tanganyika which
even the Autocrat of Rhodesia VIII find
hard to force Here Germany has the
veto on Great Britains advance. which
she cannot be expected to wave with
out a. heavy indemnity
PARTY WITHOUT LEADERS.
The Liberals present the melancholy
spectacle of a party without leaders,
without politics and, worst OF all, with
out cash. If they could agree upon a
policy. the best man closely identified
with 1t would naturally be chosen 10
lead them and money to carry on this
policy would be forthcoming from its
enthusiasts. AS Ii is, they are compelled
TO hang out the sign ITO let" pending
the meeting of Parliament.
LORD CURZON'S SELF SUFFI-
CHENEY.
The glamor of receptions and ora
tory with which Lord CurZon. of Ked-
lesion, SWEEPS into the throne of Vice
roy of India quite obscures the merits
OF the modest peer, the Earl of ElgIn,
who takes his leave Yet, already the
newspaper STumblers are CONTRASTING