Looks Less Warlike

SALISBURY ISSUES A BLUE BOOK

From Which It Would Appear That     Brisson's Yellow Book Was Hardly   Explicit ---France Asked to Put   into Writing What she Wants in the   Nile Valley, but No Sign Exhibited of   a  Weakening on the Part of England.

   London, Oct. 25.--- The British government has issued another blue book, the most important feature of which is a dispatch dated Oct. 12, from the Marquis of Salisbury to the British ambassador at Paris, Sir Edmund Monson, reporting the previous interview with Baron de Courcel, in which the latter wished to ascertain what solution of the question was possible. In this dispatch the Marquis of Salisbury says: "I generally insisted that the Nile valley had be-longed and still belonged to Egypt, and that whatever diminution that title had suffered by the mahdi's conquest had been removed by the victory at Omdurman." The Marquis of Salisbury then pointed out the helplessness of Major Marchand's position, which Baron de Courcel denied, and flnally the British premier, in response to Baron de Courcel's suggestion, offered to supply Major Marchand with food and ammunition in order that he might be able to reach French territory.

 Salisbury Wants It in Black and White.

    Baron de Courcel then said France wanted an outlet to the Nile, and the Marquis of Salisbury requested that the whole proposition be made in writing. This was the last interview between the ambassador and the premier on this subject. Baron de Courcel then went to Paris and it is thought that the proposition which he brought last night embodies the points indicated in this conversation. The British cabinet council has been fixed for Thursday next.

     Crapaud Is Very Indefinite.

   The Salisbury dispatch in conclusion said: "The extreme indefiniteness of Baron de Courcel's propositions made it impossible for me to express or to form an opinion relative to the territory claimed by France in the Bahr-EI-Ghazal region. Under the circumstances the discussion has been fruitful of misapprehension. I informed him that it was in no way my duty to discuss the French claims now, but that in abstaining there from, I must not be understood as in any degree admitting their validity." The blue book also contains interesting letters from Mustapha, the regent of Egypt, to General Kitchener and Lord Cromer (the British diplomatic agent) respectively, showing Egypt's attitude. He wrote to General Kitchener warmly thanking him for taking possession of Fashoda, and thereby reconquering for Egypt the provinces which assure her existence and from which she only retired provisionally.

      Egyptian Territory at All Times.

    The regent in writing to Lord Cromer protested against "the French violation of Egyptian territory," adding that Egypt had never lost sight of the reoccupation of the provinces of the Soudan which are the actual sources of the vitality of Egypt, and from which she only withdrew owing to force. He also said that the reconquest of Khartoum would fail to have its effect if the valley of the Nile was not restored to Egypt. Mustapha concluded with referring to the Anglo-French discussion on the subject pf Fashoda, urging Lord Cromer to use his good offices with the Marquis of Salisbury, "'in order that the incontestable rights of Egypt may be recognized and that all the provinces occupied up to the rebellion of Mohamed Ahmed be restored to her."