ial members of the Council have
received from time to time accounts of brilliant victories, knowing all
the time what a terrible effect upon the ultimate balance of the budget
those victories will entail. [Laughter.] It is a hazardous thing to say,
but I am almost inclined to believe that the Sirdar is the only general
that has fought a campaign for L300,000 less than he originally promised
to do it. [Laughter.] It is a very great quality, and if it existed more
generally, I think that terror which financiers entertain of soldiers,
and that contempt which soldiers entertain for financiers would not be
so frequently felt. ["Hear! Hear!" and laughter.]

Well, then, the Sirdar has another great quality: he is a splendid
diplomatist. It would require talents of no small acuteness and
development to enable him to carry to so successful a result as he did
that exceedingly delicate mission up the Nile which conducted him into
the presence of Major Marchand. The intercourse of that time has ended
apparently in the deepest affection on both sides [laughter]--certainly
in the most unrestricted and unstinted compliments and expressions of
admiration and approval. I think these things show very much for the
diplomatic talents of the Sirdar. He recently expressed his hope that
the differences which might have arisen from the presence of Major
Marchand would not transcend the powers of diplomacy to adjust. I am
glad to say that up to a certain point he has proved a true prophet.
[Cheers.] I received from the French Ambassador this afternoon the
information that the French Government had come to the conclusion that
the occupation of Fashoda was of no sort of value to the French
Republic. [Loud cheers and some laughter.] And they thought that in the
circumstances to persist in an occupation which only cost them money and
did them harm merely because some bad advisers thought it might be
disagreeable to an unwelcome neighbor, would not show the wisdom by
which I think the French Republic has been uniformly guided, and they
have done what I believe the government of any other country would have
done, in the same position--they have resolved that that occupation must
cease. [Cheers.] A formal intimation of that fact was made to me this
afternoon and it has been conveyed to the French authorities at Cairo. I
believe that the fact of that extremely difficult juxtaposition between
the Sirdar and Major Marchand has led to a result which is cer