THE FRANCO-BRITISH QUARREL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3572, 26 October 1898, Page 2

THE FRANCO-BRITISH QUARREL.

FURTHER WAR MEASURES. BRITISH SQUADRON MOBILISING. TORPEDO-DESTROYERS COMMISSIONED. LORD SALISBURY'S REPLY TO FRANCE. MARC HAND’S “SECRET EXPEDITION.’' THE BRITISH BLUE BOOK. FRENCH PLEDGES UNFULFILLED, BARON DE COUKCEL EXCITED. ATTITUDE OP EGYPT. Press Associiifion. Received October 2d, 1 a.ra. London, October 25. The British Admiralty is placing in commission 18 torpedo-destroyers, with a speed of 30 knots. The British North American squadron of 15 ships is mobilising 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 th© French Ambassador as to alternative proposals in the matter of the claims of Prance in the Upper Nile Valley. He says that on October 6th he had a two hours* interview with Baron de Courcel, the greater part of which was occupied by remarks introduced by the latter on his own initiative with reference to Fashod-i. 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 had no claim to the region. He added that Major Mirchand hid conducted 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 the delimitation of boundaries were in progress and that Major Marohand was retiring from Fashoda. Lord Salisbury would not countenance the cession of a portion of tho left bank of the Nile to Prance. On October 12:h Baron de Conrcel promised that Major Marcband would retreat westward if he wore provided with food and munitions of war, whereupon Lord Salisbury promised that he should have both. That part of the subject was not further pursued by the French Ambassador, who then proceeded to ask that Prance should have an outlet to the Nile. At this stage of the interview Baron de Couroal became excited, and Lord Salisbury refused to discuss the matter with him further unless ho placed his proposals in writing. The Egyptian Government, it is stated, approved of the Sirdar's action with regard to Major Marohand, and urged Lord Salisbury to prevent the Nila provinces east of Deozben (?) falling into other hands.