THE ASHANTEE CAMPAIGN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5458, 9 January 1896, Page 3

THE ASHANTEE CAMPAIGN.

With reference to the.Ashantee envoys, whose credentials have, according to a -recent cable message, been discovered to be forged, the, London correspondent of the AVgiis says *. — Fox ; several months past therq have'been in England -two gentlemen "calling themselves^sl^hti* princes," welleducated," gentlemanly, young fellows, who professed to represent Prempeh (King of Ashanti). The real object of their visit was to interview the Colonial Secretary, and, if possible, settle the Ashanti dispute over the head of the Governor of the Gold ! Coast. Before leaving Africa they were told they would not be officially received in England, and that Prempeh's differences must be arranged through the Governor of the Gold Coast, and through him alone. These young " princes " have made many efforts to induce the Press to take up their cause, and Mr Chamberlain has accepted their representations of King Prempeh's case through third persons, but the official door of the Colonial Office has been closed against them. During the past week, finding that preparations were being matle for an immediate war upon Ashanti, these two "princes" induced Dr Suffield and Mr Southerst to represent to Mr Chamberlain that they had power from their king to treat for peace. They were willing to accept all the English demands, including the presence of a Resident at Coomassie, and pay the cost of the war preparations. JTor a few days it seemed likely that the Ashanti war would " go off," but in the end Mr Chamberlain decided to relax no effort to push on with the campaign. He deemed it impossible to understand why, when Messrs Ansa (as he calls them) approached him through intermediaries some time ago, they did not then give the assurances demanded of the King. Mr Chamberlain evidently doubted their authority to bind the King to an acceptance of their settlement, and he therefore told them, through Lord Suffield, to hurry back to Africa by this week's mail, communicate with the Governor of the Gold Coast, who would facilitate their return to Coomassie with two officers to make treaty arrangements, and there would yet be tune to stop the expedition before it reached their' capital. There is a strong suspicion that the latest move of the two "princes" was intended to delay the advance of the expedition till the arrival of the heavy rains.

-• One of the little black children at. Hampton recently announced that he thought Adam was more to blame than Eve about the apple, because "the serpent had to talk to Eve a long time, but Adam, he eat it right up."