Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-19
The Cape to Cairo Line as Result of the European War


structed through the persistence of
Percival Farquhar. a young American
railway dreamer and builder.
Aside from the physical obstacles.
neither King Leopold nor the Belgian
government, after the Kongo ceased to
be the kings personal possession. was
very receptive to the plans for the
Cape-to-Cairo project, although encour-
agement was given to railway building
in other sections of the Kongo. The
British government. which as govern
ment never became responsible for
Rhodes projects. was not insistent
England herself never has shown hos
pitality to railway projects of other
countries through her territory. even
though the cause of civilization would
thereby be advanced. Civilization was
secondary when British interests were
thought to be menaced.
A few years ago, when some British
statesmen were seeking rapprochement
with Germany. the cape to Cairo project
came within their purview. German
East Africa presented fewer obstacles
TO a railway line north and south than
did the Kongo jungles. Typographical
~, the route was much more feasible.
1t also traversed territory which was
capable of sustaining white men, 1t
is not known just what diplomatic
representations were made. but they
were definite enough to secure q
definite reply from Germany.
The German government gave q
friendly answer in the diplomatic sense
but intimated plainly that its policy
was against foreign railway construc-
tion in its colonies. Since this also had
been the British policy. there was
nothing more 10 be said by the British
government. but the war and the wars
consequences have little concern with
past policies
If the conquest of German East
Africa proves permanent there is no
question that Great Britain's interests
In the cape TO Cairo railway will be
vastly increased. The long section of
the line between Broken Hill. in
Rhodesia, and Senaar. on the Blue Nile.
south OF khartum, may be projected
several hundred miles east of the Bsl-
gian kongo.
AZ Q simple question OF constructors
this would be much more feasible
than building and maintaining the line
through the Kongo tropical wilderness
1t would also have a much moro solid
commercial basis in the traffic that
could be developed. and it would link
up the lire of British East Africa with
what is known as the Central railway
in German East Africa.
This line runs from the Indian
ocean to Lake Tanganyika. 1t would
mean the further construction of trans
verse lines. so as to provide a large
section of East Africa with means of
intercommunication. The Portuguese
government. which has maintained its
African possessions intact. would be
friendly to such a project. since IL f.
now allied with England and it never
has been on cordial terms with Ger.
many represented in Africa.
1t is not unlikely that the scheme wifi
receive consideration in the preliminary
conferences of the allies although there
portance that must be settled first IL
may be assumed that Germany with
full knowledge of the British purpose
VIII fight TO the uttermost to retain her
possessions in East Africa. although
now she has only a remnant of them.
To lose the realization of the Berlin to
Bagdad railway on her own part, and
10 see England realize the cape to Cairo
railway would be to fill Germany's cup
OF bitterness to overlooking.
In the changed relation OF Belgium to
England it is probable that the stricken
countrys statesmen would not now re-
gard the abandonment of the Belgian
Kongo as link of the cape TO Cairo
line favorably. Indirectly. their inf1u
ence might be against the plans for
German East Africa, but the subject
probably will be worked out as a prac-
teal proposition of railway construc-
ton for development purposes as well
as for political purposes.
Some of the authorities on Africa in
commenting on the subject have pre-
dicted that future generations will
both the eastern link. though what IL
now German East Africa. and the west
ern link, through the kongo. construct
ed, just the great Canadian north
west is now traversed by two CONT
mental lines hundreds of miles apart.
What is likely to happen IN that the
link will be built through the Kongo
when the worlds demand for It's tropi-
cal products becomes pressing, and tn.
physical difficulties will then seem neg
ligible. In the meantime the interven-
ing region may be served by the steam
ers between Khartum- and Gondokoro.
in the equatorial region while the rail
way line through German East Africa
occupies the attention of peace nego-