BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11725, 1 November 1898, Page 4

BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

TTie cablegrams we liave published during the past few days have made it abundantly clear that the Fnshoda incident is, so far as French politicians are concerned, xnerely a stalking horse, intended to divert attention from the domestic affairs of the republic. But, in spite of the strenuous efforts of some of these gentlemen, the Dreyfus case is again rising to the surface, and clamouring for definite settlement. Even in Prance so great an injustice as that inflicted upon the exiled officer cannot he witnessed without a vigorous protest. The Dreyfus case and the Faahoda incident have been, to our mind, inseparable up to the present point, but now, with the projected withdrawal of Major Marchand, it Will he possible to discuss them separately. It is to be hoped that time and tho heroic efforts of his wife will ultimately unravel the mystery that surrounds Dreyfus, and that the generous French people will insist upon liberal reparation being made for his wrongs. The latest news seems to indicate a revulsion of feeling in bis favour, and when the Aide of public opinion once turns in Paris it is apt to run at an overwhelming pace. As to Fashcda and Major Marchand's dramatic appearance there, we may safely assume that the absurd contention that the Major had established “effective occupation”, has hpejp From the very fHitset his position waa regarded by the entire British

Press as untenable. Journals of every shade of political opinion concurred in declaring that Pashoda was as unquestionably Egyptian as Khartoum, and that the Sirdar was 1 entitled to order Major Marchand to withdraw. He did not do so, but he gave the Major very distinctly to understand that he was there only on sufferance, and by courtesy of the Anglo-Egyptian occupants. At the same time, Lord Kitchener, we are glad to see, made the most generous allusion to the intrepid Frenchman’s achievements. And Major Marchand thoroughly deserves this compliment, if civilisation is ready to connive at the rough and ready fashion in which military travellers make their way through the remote parts of the Dark Continent. He had to capture natives to act as porters, and scores of them were shot because they refused to serve, while scores of others were starved because he had no food to give therein short, he appears to have got through only after stupendous'efforts and indescribable sufferings, and now we learn that the remnant of his men are dying of hunger and disease at Fashoda. He could not possibly return by the way he came, and he could not progress another mile without the protection of the Anglo-Egyptian arms. For a knowledge of his movements, his countrymen are wholly indebted to the British Press, and it will be remembered that it was by the courtesy of the Sirdar that his messenger was permitted, to cany the despatches to Paris. It now turns out, by the way, that the messenger had practically nothing to carry; nothing, at any rate, that the French Government cared to make public. A diary of Major Marohand’s adventurous journey could throw but little light on the Nile problem, and it is evident that its . author supplied nothing else to support the fiction of “effective occupation]” We imagine that the predominant-feeling in Great Britain just now must be one of surprise that so much should have been made of such a transparent piece of Gallic bounce. If French politicians ever had any intention to press their demands the prompt determination of Great Britain that there should be no trifling or hesitation over the Nile questiorumust have convinced them that they were'playing a dangerous game. The position now, according to the Paris correspondent of the. London “ Timies,” is that the French are about to withdraw Major Marchand, in- the hope that they‘will find a. favourable opportunity to re-open the question. So far as Great Britain is concerned there is no question to re-open. The Egyptian policy has been calmly framed and deliberately developed, and there are rumours that a more definite stand is about to be taken by assuming the protectorate of Egypt. This step would at once bring the question to an issue, and would enable British counsels to prevail at Cairo, undeterred by native and foreign intrigues. It would, moreover, give a firmer standing ground for the British 'administration ‘than the present dll-defined arrangement.