CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 1 March 1898, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

West Africa. ■'. liord Salisbury stated that Sir EcUftund MoDßon, British Ambassador at Paris, has informed M. Hanotftiu. the French Minister for ftgttign Affair*, that, if rtporti are trlift -to, regard to the. Sultanate of Sokoto, the news will hay« a yery seffoinf bearing upon the present situation in West Africa. I£, Hanotaux replied that he did riot believe the reports. If they i^ene .true, however, the incidents had occurred against the withes and and. instructions of the French Got* ei'binent, since it was not the desire of the Government to approach Sokoto. jy£ Labon, the French Minister for' the Colonies was a' so Been by iße British Ambassador, and declared tb.at there were no French troops ar present in the Sokoto region. Commenting on these statements, tfiV 7Ym<M remark* that the contention that the arrival of a French force at Argungu Tagga i« unconnected with any invasion of Snkoto renders in neceisary to cautiously accept the denials of the members of the French Ministry. It adds that |he French troop 9 ought to be o^nfined to the west bank of the Niger. Reports from Lagos state that Colonel MoCallnm, Governor and Commander-in-Cliief at Lagos, arrived at Saki in 'he hinterland on Monday, an') the Im "trial troops are pushing forwaid ran dly. No few j r that IT4 oToers belong" ing to the Army and milUm have •ent trWMt Africa.