Egypt.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1898, Page 2

Egypt.

The French newspapers are await* iiig an official lead before expressing opinions respecting the Fashoda incident. The Khedive's neglect to congratulate General Kitchener on his success, either during his absence at the front or when he returned to Cairo, is causing much comment. " Figaro " says that France was within an ace of receiving an ultimatum , from England, but which was withheld, thanks to the skill of M. Delcasse, the French Foreign Minister. The Parisian papers blame and praise M. Delcasae. His opponents are mostly Revisionists. ' The claim of Great Britain for Major Marchand's recall before negotiations are opened is regarded a3 inadmissible. A semi-official Note has been issued in Paris with reference to Faahoda. It states that the British and French oiaims to the Upper Nile involve an old question preceding the speech made in 1895 by Sir Edward Grey, then Uuder- Secretary lit Foreign Affairs, in which he declared that the occupation of Fashoda by France would be regarded by the British Government as an unfriendly act. The Note adds that neither the British nor the French occupation of the disputed territory would be mutually exclusive. M. Deleasae's telegram to Major Marohand. which was forwarded through General Kitchener, has been delivered. Major Marchand's reply is expected on the 17th inst. Major Marchand is likely to withdraw from Fashoda spontaneously, thus extricating the Government from a difficult position. The Standard says that M. Delcas3e, as the originator of the idea of a Frenoh post on the Nile, will probably resign. Lord Rosebery, in the oourse of a speech at Epsom, stated that the situation at Fashoda was one of supreme gravity. No Government receding from the policy enunciated by Sir Edward Grey could survive a week. The situation was doubly grave because the act committed by France was with the knowledge that Great Britain would regard it as an unfriendly act. He declared that Lord Salisbury would ba backed by the united nation, aud it was a disastrous mistake to suppese that the ancient spirit of Great Britain was dead. The Russian press, discussing the Fashoda incident, urges that the rival claims be submitted to arbitration.