DID NOT SOLICIT OVERTURES.

Manawatu Herald, 27 October 1898, Page 2

DID NOT SOLICIT OVERTURES.

Tbe British Admiralty is placing in commission 18 torpedo-destroyers, with a ppeed of 80 knots. The British North American squadron of 15 ships is mobilising at at Halifax. A British Blue Book has been issued utterly refuting the statements of the French Yellow Book. Lord Salisbury states that he did not solicit overtures from the French Ambassador as to alter-nativp proposals in the matter of the claims of France in the Upper Nile Valley. He says that on October 6th he bad a two hours 1 interview with Baron de Courcel, the greater part of which was occupied by remark? introduced by the latter on his own initiative with reference to Fashoda. Lord Salisbury insisted that the question at issue was whether the

Khedive or the Mahdists were entitled to the possession of the Nile ; and that question having been decided on the battlefield, a third party bad no claim to the region. He added that Major Marohand had conduoted a secret expedition, despite repeated warnings from Great Britain that the territory invaded was within her sphere of influence. Baron de Courcel wished both nations to announce that negotiations for tbe delimitations of boundaries were in progress and that Major Marchand was retiring from Fashoda. Lord Salisbury would not coon* tenanca the cession of a portion of the left back of the Nile to France. On October 12th Baron de Oourcel promised that Major Marchand would retreat westward if he were provided with food and munitions of war, whereupon Lord Salisbury promised that he should have both. That part of the subject Was not furtlu-r pursued by tbe Frenoh Atnhi-c>ii(ior, who then prooeeded to ask that France should have an out* let to the Nile. At this stage of the iuterviuw Baron do Oouroel became excit-.d. and Lord Salisbury refused to discuss the matter with him further unless he placed hiß proposals in writing. The Egyptian Government, it is st ited, approved of the Sirdar's action with regard to Major Marchand, and urged Lord Salisbury to prevent the Nile provinces east of Daozben (?) falling into other hands. Tha London wheat market is excited. Wheat is quoted at about 1b dearer on the week's business. The American newspapers strongly sympathise with Great Britain over the Fashoda incident, and warn Fiance that it would be impossible for her to conduct a successful naval war. Fifteen hundred marines and 600 artillerymen have reinforced the garrison and the fleet at Toulon. Tbe British Cabinet; meets on Thursday. (To-day) The steamship companies, whose vessels have been subsidised to act «3 auxuiliary warships, have been warned to be in readiness to place them in commission. ■ The Stock Exchange is perturbed, Gbnsols fell to 106$, bat reoovored o 107*. Baron de Gourcel, who has been io Paris since the 18th, has returned to London. Captain Marohant informed General Kitchener that he was confi lent he would ta .called when the position is known. Hh admitted he was unah'p to r««*ii>t the Dervishes or vefcin westward. The Fdich newspapers, commenting on ihf Y-illow Biok, refer, exulting!}' So L >rd Salisbury's pitiful exhibition ho I inability to oppose Baron <h C>rcel anrl Baron de Conrael'M dip'otn-Uio nkil!. The B ut> P>nok shows that Lord Silislm-y unflinchingly claimed the wh l«Nit« Valley, and the British and Eg ptinn authorities required Gap tin Marcband'a withdrawal to the, wtt't'sb'd at Bihr el Ghaz3l.