(ror tHe WEEK xxDING THE 12TH OF Nov.)
Tar opening of the Bulawayo Railvra undoubtedly a notable event in the Colonial history of Great Britain. Mr. Rhodes, we learn, was not present at the rejoicings at Bulawayo, his desire being, according to the Saturday Review, to. be as conciliatory 83 possible to the Boers, as there is a ident yet who will be more favourable chance of their electing successor to Pre-tothe mining interests in the Transvaal. A Reuter's telegram dated Bulawayo, the 5th ult. says \ding to the toast of the Cape railways, at the Bulawayo inaugural banquet, Sir: James Sivewright, ister of Public Works, said. that that day witnessed the triumph of engineers over almost insuperable difficulties. The railway to Bulawayo meant everything to Rhodesia, as it was impossible to develop s new country without. transport.
ing those determined to see nothing in it, he feared that th> wish was father to the thought. He bad never wavered in his belief in Rhodesia, and he repudiated scornfully the dea that the cumbers of fine young Englishmen who were present would be parties to ea gigantic @ fraud as their enemies insinuated. Continuing, the speaker said that the real significance of that day's proceedings lay in the fact that every man there ewos striving, each in his own way, to extend the name. and fame of Engl: The fact that two great political forces were contonding—Republicanism and Imperialiem—in that country was due to misconception. The Emperialite did not contemplate an Empire held in subjection by military despotism, but merely a collection of free. self-governm; States, each honourably bound to respect an regard as sacred the internal independence of their neighbour, but bound together by ties of common interest and by the need of com-MGs Tame Sivewsight read the following amciage received frou Mr. Rhodes it James Sivewright ¢ follow
Thave made up my mind to extend the railway to Zambesia without delay. The magnificent coalfields between here and there mean much tous. Let us see the work accomplished during our lifetime."
In conclusion; Sir J. Sivewright dwelt upon the solidarity of interest between the ape and Rhodesia, and said that he was sure that Cope Colony would always stand by them whatever Government might bein office.
Of the opening of the railway the Daily News writes whhous dietiner-ea of wot will pro! impose of the native question, far os it in one of revolt and Sioniection, for ever. The festival was especially an induna's holiday. The chiefs trooped into the township, and took part in the rejoicings in s manner which, we feel sure, was com-Pounded of enthusiasm and of awe. As train after train steamed in, and in the evening, the town glowed with electric illumination," the natives must have had a far more impressive demonstration of the white man's powers than they have ever had before. It was the white man as magician and miracle worker in the atta, ruler and law giver, and not morely as the victor in fight. The date of the cere-many ought to mark the opening of an era of peace.
The Guildhall Dinner when the Con-forward to with interest, as Lord Salabury's servatives are in power is always looked speech is sure to be full of brave words, though these words are hardly followed up when the time for action comes. Inits leading article on the speech, in its issue of the 10th ult., the Times says our rivals in. Africa have been protracted negotiations for a long time pending witl Lord Salsbary dace not deny that the and, in some degree, disappointing. Nor did'he hold out any'hope of an immediate solution of some, at least, of the African questions we have been discussing with rence, Germany, Portugal, Italy, and other States, native and European. The position secured by Sir Herbert Kitchener's operations on the Nile is, the Prime Minister avows, the only point in Africa which can be discussed for the moment without serious reserve, Afsica, Lord Salisbury complains was created to be the plague of Foreign Offices." A scramble for the possession or the paramount title to an immense area of its partially settled and wholly un-civilised territories has been going on for many years past, and we have found ourselves at various points in conflict with the protensions' of other Eui States. Lord Salisbury stated frankly that he could not undertake to discuss or even to explain these controversies at the Guildhall, except, risk of hampering the temperate and_concilistory policy he desires to pursue. Every nation nowadays wants to hear all about its own diplomacy and naturally—eager that its own claime should always prevail. This result, at the same time, is not possible of attainment in the case of five or six Powers with competing claims. The statements of @ British Minister on a public occasion like the Guildhall banquet are certain to be discussed all over the world, and their discussion "would evidently be liable to interfere with negotiations. But there can be no objection to laying down, broadly and distinctly, the main lines of our policy. in Africa. "Our conduct, Lord Salisbury affirms, has been guided throughout by strict principles of right, and by "due and constant Tegard for the prosperity and the interests of colour the map of Africa red. What we have the Empire." We do not merely want to in view, ing to the Prime Minister, are strictly business objects," the extension of commerce, the advance of civilisation, the opening up of new markets, the freeing for the purposes of trade of the great waterways of the Continent—the Niger, the Nile, and the Zambesi. There is double significance in these declarations of Lord Salisbury. On the one hand, they indies te the gradual disuse of the policy of Chsrtered Companies, which must be more or less identified with commercial restrictions. On the other hand. they link together the destinies of the Nile and the Niger, of Northern and Southern, of Western and. Eastern, Africs, which is important in view of the pretensions set up by others. The Policy thus sketched out is for the benefit, Bot of this country alone, but of all the world. As for the demands of rival Powers, Lord Salisbury's language was as decided as it, was We desire to show, as we have shown in the "due consideration for the feelings and claims of others," but there is limit beyond which neighbour ly, us. Nothicg that Lord: Selisbary. said last night was so loudly cheered at the Guildhall as his words on this. matter: "We cannot allow our plain rights to be over-ridden."
The Morning Post of the same date prevailing feelling with the majority of those Dissppointment, will, doubtless, be the the have been anxiously looking forward to that he would say something rash will search Lord Salisbury'sutterances, Those who hoped in vain for the fulfilment of their hopes. On the other hand, those who" desired, rather than expected,' that he would reveal the secrets of all the diplomatic negotiate which he hed been engaged during Parliamentary Recess will' find that expectations have been justified while their desires have not been gratified.
It is satisfactory to note, that Lard Sal bury acknowledges that the time has come when he is bound tosay that there must be a limitation to the policy of.consideration for others, and. that we cannot allow our plain rights to be over-ridden. No: sentence' that fell from the Prime Minister lest ight, was: more anthusist Sudlenge that had asgeibled to heat him applause e Tepresentative than the words we have quoted. It is to be hoped that the significant. reception of this sentiment will not be lost on the Government, and that these brave words with their fall meaning will reach the different audiences in different parts of the world" of whom Lord Salisbury, spoke with such diffident respect.
In another leading article dealing with the intended occupation of Kassala by Egyptian troops the Times mentions the French expeditions towards the Nile, and says 'The movements of the French higher up the Nile are matters of great interest and importance, but their precise bearing upon the question' of occupying Khartoum is not quite so cleat as some seem to think it. There are rumours that they have actually reached Fashoda, though trustworthy information is not. accessible to the public. Whether that be the case or not any one who cares to consult 'a map will seo that Fashoda is a long way from Khartoum. On the other hand, it the French expedition, and it may be.said Algo a Jong way from the starting point of that men who have travelled so far will reach Khartoum itself if we give them a little more time. But audacity itself can hardly pretend to treat um a$@ no-man's land. If a French corporal can manage to stick up a French flag anywhere, it seems to satisfy M. Hanotaux's notions of effective occupation though he defines the term much more strictly when the case in reversed. It hss, however, been very distinctly intimated to the French Government that we shall consider any proceeding of this kind. at Fashods or clewhere, in the valley-of the call forth our mut energetic protest. Our Upper Nile as an unfriendly act which will in that respect is fully known. and it not be deflected by any pretence of "effective occupation" such 28 alone is ible for the French in the circumstances, have serious business in Khartoum and the Nile Valley, in view of which it can only be hoped that there is no foundation for' the rumours of unfriendly interference just re-forred to.
Writing on the 12th ult, the Times discusses again the pretensions in West Affica with which the Anglo-French conference in Paris has been dealing, and it says When Lord Sslisbury told his Tellow-guests st the Guildhall banquet on Tuesday night that this country. however anxious to preserve peace and to show the utmost consideration towards the claims of our neighbours, would not be disposed to allow our plain rights to be over-ridden, he did much to clear the air. 'The' African' questions at issue have been brought down, even in the columns of the Paris newspapers, to the level of commonplace fact and settled law. It is well that the public of both countries should clearly understand that, in West'Africa, where the pretensions of France have come into conflict with' Britith claims,-our' rights admit of, no
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.