WEST AFRICA.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9108, 28 February 1898, Page 2

WEST AFRICA.

London, February 25. In the House of Commons Me Labouchere moved the reduction of the vote for tha West African frontier force. He said Mr Chamberlain was defying France. Mr Chamberlain, in reply, said he had reason to hope that the negotiations would result in a friendly and satisfactory settlement of tha boundaries of the West Niger territory. The Government wa3 determined not to allow the trade of Lagos and the Gold Coast districts to be strangled as Gambia and Sierra Leone had been. French expeditions had spread fanlike over the region constituting the grographical and legitimate British hinterland. The establishment of a frontier police force was absolutely necessary. Mr Chamberlain further announced that the Cabinet were absolutely united on the West African policy from begin* ning to end. i Tbis announcement was received with cheers. Sir Edward Grey (Liberal), for] merly Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said the Government had no choice but to be firm. The amendment was negatived by 234 to 27. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, Secretary ot State for the Colonies, stated that Germany had infringed the agreement enterecl into in 1888, and had occupied Yenai, in the neutral zone of the Guinea district. The Governor of the Gold Coast thereupon was ordered to occupy Salaga, the seat of the German mission in Upper Guinea. Germany then consented to withdraw from Yenai, and the British withdrew from Salaga. Paris, February 24. M. Hanatoux, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, has assured Sir Edmund Monson, the British Ambassador, that there was no French force at either Sokoto or Argunga Taga, and that none was being sent.