Prance and the Nile Valley.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5270, 29 May 1895, Page 4

Prance and the Nile Valley.

(From the Lyttelton Times.)

Thebe is something distinctly disquieting in the report that a majority of the French Chamber ia prepared to support a motion calling upon the British to evacuate the Nile Valley. The Government of M. Ribot has shown itself conciliatory and reasonable in regard to the alleged encroachments of French expeditions on the Niger, but we cannot say how far it may be affected by lan excited public opinion. M. Hanotaux, the French Minister of War, claims that the whole of the Nile Valley is under the influence of the Khedive of Egypt and his suzerain, the Sultan of Turkey, and he denies the right of England to control the territory. As a matter of fact, however, the Mahdi is the only effective ruler in the Upper Nile regions, and it being beyond the power of the Khedive or the Sultan to suppress him, the sole question is whether the duty shall be undertaken by England or by France. From Egypt in the north and from Uganda in the south, British forces could easily co-operate to crush the Mahdi, if that step were resolved upon. Colonel Colville the other day declared to an interviewer : — " There is nothing to stop a British advance on the Nile Valley. If we wish for the Nile Valley we must go and take it. It is certain that no amount of treaties would have any effect. £ fancy the chief reason why Egypt does not advance is want of money. With regard to the Khalifa's position, I am of opinion that attack from foreigners would cause the dissension among the Dervishes to disappear, and that they would flock round the Mahdi's standard. There would undoubtedly be a big fight at Khartoum, and X should not care to attack the place with less than 10,000 men, but beyond thiß I do not think tbe Khalifa would make a stand. Before the Trans- African telegraph can be laid it will be found absolutely necessary to subjugate the Dervishes. Possibly in this matter an advance will be made from Egypt." For the expansion of Uganda a railway to the coast is an absolute necessity, and it may also be a necessary preliminary to any advance on Khartoum. Speaking at the Boyal Geographical Society's meeting last month, Mr H. M. Stanley, the explorer, said:. "It will be absolutely necessary for England: to do something shortly. One feels this is in the air. I will not mention any names, but you all know that there is an influence particularly hostile to any further extension of the power of this country. The genius that would stop all that and block the way to all idea of strategy on the part of our friends and neighbours would be the Tjoifilfng^^ 18^^ •• baesa and the Victoria Nyanza." Possibly, the British answer to tbe French demaud for evacuation, supposing it to be made, will be the building of this railway, the subjugation of the Mahdists, and the erection of a telegraph line from Capetown to Cairo.