The Fashoda Incident.

Manawatu Herald, 1 November 1898, Page 2

The Fashoda Incident.

Wab is not declared and we believe, and hope it will not be, yet we have a right to appreciate the backbone of Lord Salisbury and the British Empire over this Fashoda incident. France will back down, and Major Marchand's expedition will be termed a purely geographical one in the long run, as we have the instance of the French Geographical Society sending its greetings to both the Major and the Sirdar. From oar latest Home papers we take the following clippings which places the French view in a very different light in the early part of September : — The "Eclair" publishes an inspired communication respecting the Marchand mission. "It is necessary that it should be known," it says, " that the Marchand mission was undertaken with the sole object of consolidating our domination in the hinterland of our colony of Congo — Übanghi. In order to accomplish this properly it became necessary to acquire a base of operations and of defence, and to get this base we have been compelled to go as far as the White Nile. Alter this explanation it appears to us very difficult to make the slightest objeotion to the most legitimate policy of expansion. The conquest of the Egyptian Soudan, which the English would have us regard as the most natural thing in the world, is also an act of expansion, but between them and us is a great difference, for the Congo is a French colony, whereas Egypt is not a British colony. In a leading article, in which fall homage is paid to England's tenacity and perseverance in her project of a I continuous empire from Alexandra to the Cape, a writer in the " Figaro" says the sole remaining obstacle in the way of its realisation is the presence of Maj. Marohand at Fashoda. M. Declasse may be counted upon to uphold the rights France has acquired, tbank3 to Maj. Marohand, with a firm hand, and he may be relied upon to see that such an heroic performance as Maj. Marchand has accomplished shall not be thrown away. The •• Temps " says Oapt. Marchand is not an adventurer, as some of the English papers think, but an officer entrusted with a mission to whioh France attaches considerable importance. Any act directed against his person or the French flag will be considered as involving the consequences usual under such circumstances, but there is not the least doubt the British and French Governments have made arrangements for the inevitable meeting of the two forces to take place under normal conditions. But, for an accidental misunderstanding which there is no reason to anticipate, nothing is likely to alter the official relations between the two countries. The courteous nature of these relations is shown by the Duke of Connought's speech at Moulins. The " Libert 6 " sayg if the Sirdar finds the French mission at Fashoda he will merely make a formal protest and return to Khartoum. An open act of hostility against the French mission is inadmissible. An armed conflict can only occur if the Sirdar conceals the flag, and causes Capt. Marchand to suppose that he has to deal with another Darvish attack. It is not to be supposed that Sir H. Kitchener would have recourse to suoh unfair prooedure. The best course is to await the progress of events without giving way to unjustifiable alarm.