Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 10. 1898. The Niger Question.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 10. 1898. The Niger Question.

Interest bas been so aroused by the outbreak of war between Amer icaand Spain that the perilous position as to peace with France has been, for the time overlooked. For many months past friction has been caused in Africa, on the country touching the river Niger, owing to the asser tion that French forces had entered territory which belonged to Great Britain or was under its protection, and leased and managed by the Royal Niger Company. The first alarming news was that the outpo3ts of France and Britain had actually fired upon one another. Then there came a report that the French were marching to a point on the east of tho Niger and thus undoubtedly well wiihin British influence. This report was denied immediately by the French Minister, bat it appears that ha his either been incorrectly advised or has been guilty of a diplomatic assertion. In the Review of Reviews there i 3 a map showing the tival claims and garrisons on the Niger, and%.king it as correct the Freuch appear to have gone a great deal too far, as along the river they have seven military posts, and furthsr to the west, seveu more military posts, making thus fourteen aimed positions taken up in country under 13 ri lish protection. It is said that this has become intolerable to the Colonial Secretary, Mr Joseph Chamberlain, and that had he been permitted to have acted as he would like, ha would havo cleared tha French out by force of arms. The French also are firmly convinced that if it were not for Lord Salisbury, Mr Chamberlain would have entered upon war before now. It must be taken into consideration that the English Press uphold Mr Chamberlain, and if there were no other questions in the world, he would be able to get _U3 way, but Lord Salisbury refuses to do anything which would precipate a dispute which may be possible to avert.

Now nations are excited no one knows what may suddenly occur, aud our position in West Afrioa is worth keeping in mind. Mr Stead (last month) said in his Review, 44 The situation in West Africa lies in a nutshell. Since last April we have been in a state of suspended war with France, owing to the fact that the French have occupied and are now occupying territory which "until their invasion was recognised by the French themselves as belong ing to the British sphere. The situation is as if a French regiment had occupied the I =le of Wight, and was allowed to remain there under protest, until we were ready either to induce France to recall tbe regiment or to make the force prisoners of war. There are many questions, bufc there is only one question. That is the question of the right of th 3 Powers which possess the West African Coast to enjoy the right to their hinterlands if the French and Germans would agree with us to adopt a uniform Custom? tariff, and. would allow the same freedom of trade to all comers within their respective territories. Unfortunately, the French, unlike the British, when fchey occupy territory, do so for the purpose of securing for France a monopoly of the native markets. Hence, if we are not to see the British coast settlements ruined, we have to maintain their right to their back gardens. Both Sierra Leone nnd the Gambia have suffered from the way in whioh their hinterlands have been s^zed by the French, and the memory of their evil fate has made us very careful to assert and reserve all our rights to the hinterland of the* Gold Coaßt and of Lagos.

Mr Chamberlain has been preparing for extremities by organising a West African brigade of Haussas, Yorubas and.other natives, by pre* paring to take over the authority of the Niger Company, and by securing a parliamentary vote for the forces necessary to prevent French incursions into our territory in the future. In two months' time we shall be strong enough to begin operations. In six months' time, if things were left to take their course, there would not be a single Senegalese or French soldier below Say on the Niger. But tbis of course would mean war, and a war with France is fought out not on the Niger but on the high seas and in the Channel. It is that possibility which is confronting Lord Salisbury to-day, and that is the peril which we have got to face and to conquer.