It is difficult to understand the real attitude of French
statesmen with reference to the Upper Nile. They know they .cannot have it, and their talk of forwarding reinforcements to Major Marchand is talk merely. We imagine that they hope to utilise the incident so as to gain something which will please the Colonial party, and with this view have instructed the Press to declare that France is determined to defend her 4' rights," with which no one is interfering. It is not a safe game. They are wearing out the patience of the British people, and though Lord Salisbury is very wisely desirous to find them pleasant means of retreat, he may be compelled, if they " bluff " too boldly, to bring discussion to a sharp issue. The Niger is not on the road to India and the Cape as the Nile is, and M. Hanotaux will find, we can only trust not too late, that it is watched in this country with very different
• eyes. The project of " neutralising the Nile" is nonsense. The French can ascend it now for trade, as they can ascend 'the Thames.
