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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDO ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF TÍ BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHI

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It would seem possible, therefore, to arrange that the French should abandon the enclaves in return for the facilities on the Niger which they have had to ask for each time that they have sent a flotilla up the river, and to use the con- cession of a route across the arc, if the French still require it, as a means of obtaining a con. cession from them elsewhere.

This railway from Kotonou, on the coast, to a point on the Niger between Karumama and Madekali, is to be 700 kilom. long. The present rail-head is at Toffo (88 kilom.), but the road bed without permanent way, has been completed for about 90 kilom. beyond. It may be surmised, from the present speed of construction, that the whole line will be completed in about ten years from the present date. The importance which the French will doubtless seek to attach to the construction of this railway in connection with either the Niger route or that across the arc is largely discounted by the slow progress of that construction.

Whether they still require any concession to enable them to get from the Niger to Zinder is, as already mentioned, doubtful. If they do, they probably require it very much, and it is not a thing which we should grant without ample compensation. From a military point of view, the French force at Zinder is a danger to Northern Nigeria. It might be used, in the event of war, to make a dash on Kano, and the loss of Kano would be a very serious blow to us through- out the Protectorate. We do not want, there- fore, to facilitate the maintenance of a French garrison at Zinder, and we are not, as M. Cambon and M. Delcassé have contended, under any obligation to do so. The "Third Military Dis- triot," with head-quarters at Zinder, was not established until December 1900, so that this 'inaccessible" post was put there long after the Convention of 1898, and, if the French choose to place a garrison where it cannot be supplied except by our permission, it is their own fault. On the other band, the danger from Zinder is not great so long as we control access to it; and, when we have our railway to Kano, which is only about 150 miles from Zinder, we shall be in a better position to defend Kano or attack Zinder, and the base of the Dahomey Railway.. will always be open to attack from Lagos.

There appears to be no insuperable objection,

therefore, to our giving the French a practicable route to Zinder if they require it, but they must be prepared to pay a good price for it; and, if it is decided to grant such a concession, it would be better to do it by altering the boundary than by giving a way leave, as the passage of French troops through British territory would be a constant source of trouble. Before our Com- missioner, Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot, went out last year to delimit the boundary it was im- pressed upon him that he should make use of his opportunities to ascertain what would be a good frontier for us in the event of its being desired to modify the line laid down in the Convention

of 1898, and we ought soon to be in possession

of his views.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J.

HARRISON.—19/8/1908.

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