THE FASHODA AFFAIR. 325 who is on the Upper Nile in a difficult position, and your Excellency is authorised to inform M. Delcassé that Her Majesty’s Acting Agent at Cairo will be instructed to transmit to Omdurman immedtately any such message, and at the same time to request Sir H.

Kitchener to forward it thence to its destination by any opportunity which may be available.

‘** Her Majesty’s Government do not desire to be made acquainted with the purport of the message. But you must explain that they are unable to accept any responsibility for the results to the safety or health of the explorer which the delay in quitting his present situation may bring about.”

The official papers closed with the following laconic despatch from Lord Salisbury to Sir E. Monson, bearing date 3rd October.

‘*T request your Excellency to inform the French Minister for Foreign Affairs that, in accordance with his wish, his message for M. Marchand has been transmitted to Khartoum, and will be forwarded thence to its destination. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, you should state to M. Delcassé that the fact of Her Majesty’s Government having complied with his Excellency’s request in regard to the transmission of the message does not imply the slightest modification of the views previously expressed by them. You should add that, whether in times of Egyptian or Dervish dominion, the region in which M. Marchand was found has never been without an owner, and that, in the view of Her Majesty’s Government, his expedition into it with an escort of 100 Senegalese troops has no political effect, nor can any political significance be attached to it.”

In the appendix were given past speeches and despatches by M. Decrais, M. Hanotaux, Lord Kimberley, Sir E. Grey, etc.

_ The rest can be quickly told. Military and naval preparations for war in both countries were redoubled and the public tone was bellicose. Consols were