Trouble on the Dark Continent.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3971, 20 April 1883, Page 2

Trouble on the Dark Continent.

AFBICAN affairs are not usually of mach interest to the civilised communities of the world; but just now "tho dark Continent" appears to be thrusting itself prominently into notice. Tho recent Egyptian campaign, though, geographically speaking, an African affair, was European in its political aspect, and therefore tha ongrossing interest which it excited was not to be accepted as indicating that the world waa specially concerned in tho making of history io Africa. Now, howerer tnereare " burning questions springing out of purely African affairs, which are not unlikely to embroil tho Great Powers of Europe, and perhaps even the United States of America, in diplomatic differences, it not in difficulties of a more tangible and aggressive character. The Madagascar embrogho claims priority of notice. This magnificent island, on the eastern ahbre of South Afrloa, has aroused French cupidity, and under pretext of protecting their trading interests a French licet of warships lias blockaded tho

various ports, and it is believed will insist J upon annoxing soiuo portion of tho const as '; fjuarantoc for futuro security and tho i , expenses of tho expedition. A recent letter' from Antananarivo, tho capital of Madagascar, Buys that tho natives aro preparing to offer resistance to tho French forces. A French war is popular with the massea, who aro preparing to fight, and are busily [ manufacturing spears, gunpowder, and bullets. In this quarrel, Britain and tho United States aro deoply concernod having commercial interests in the island or far greater moment than those of France, and these Powers havo'SeftiveJsels of war to watch operations and tako what stops may bo uocessary for the protection of thoir respective subjects and interests. The Qnoen of Madagascar has also, it is said, appealed to Jsugland and Germany to protect her against French aggression ;, and though thoro is little chance of that appeal being responded to, the fact of its being made proves that the Malagasios have sufficiently advanced in the. study .of the art of diplomacy to: recognise the wisdom of working upon national joalousioa and taking advantage of ..conflicting aims and interests. There are hopes that tho Fronch Government, more'uiider the pressure of impending international complication.", than in four of Malagasy opposition, will desiat from any mrious attempt to annex any portion of Madagascar; but at the present moment tho outlook, is fraught with no little danger, which a slight eront might precipitate. Following tho African coast to tho Capo of Good Hopo, wo find that the Basutos anoBoers are in a atato of incipient warfare, while the Zulu Kingdom, since tho restoration of Cete-wayo, is in a condition bordering on anarchy. Going up tho Western Coast or the African Continent, tho same unsettled1 condition of affairs is to bo observed. Wo had n vague report tho other day to the effect that tho British Government were annexing a largo traot of territory bordering on tho treoStuto of Liberia. Then wo had news on Wednesday of a successful French attack on Port Negra Loiingja; while yesterday wo received ' intelligence that the Portuguese Government (doubtless in viow of tho threatening aspect of affairs) had ordered throe nun-boats to St Paul de Loanda, tho capital of their Wost African colony. Then last of all, come tidings of threutonod war on tho Congo—a truly miniature campaign —in which the combatants ore the rival forces of tho redoubtable Henry M, Stanley and tho mock-heroic de Brazza. Tho latter ontorprisini? gentleman apparently believes with Victor Uui>o that "Tho French aro Italians-tho Italians aro Fronoh." Of Italian nationality, ho has nevertheless shown great activity in annexing African territory in tho name of the French Kepublic, and has aroused the ire of Stanley by appropriating tho results of his labours on tho Congo. The threatened "war" would bo tho-oughly ridiculous were it doc just possiblo that international complications may be created by the' quarrel between these petty belligerent)', : The'unsettled state of many parts of Africa, causod mainly by tho greed or ambition of European Powers, is a curious "sign of tho times." Lot us hopo that, whatever may happen, the outcome will be to the advantage of the benighted denizens of that continent. It is a strange truthJ that, in tho wordi of Mr Hosoa tfiglow—

" Civilisation doca Rot forrlt, tomoUmaa, apoa a powdor cart ;'* and If by uo other moans than tho operation of European agßresdvonoss, the enlifjntoumont of " the dark Continent," and the final suprcssion of the iniquitous slave traffic can bo obtained, then war may be welcomed as a minor evil, and a necessary means for the working out ola great end.