Lord Carnarvon made a statement on Thursday explaining his views
as to the exchange of the Gambia for the French settle- ments on the Gold Coast, an exchange discussed by successive Governments. They seem to us to amount to this :—If transfers of territory could now be settled, as of old, by the will of statesmen, the exchange would be very convenient. The French offer to round off our settlements in Sierra Leone and on the Gold Coast in such a manner that it will be possible to levy a much sharper taxation, as smuggling will be impossible, and to prevent effectually the introduction of arms. In return, they ask our stations in the Gambia, with their hundred or so of Euro- peans and 14,000 natives. Those settlements would be convenient for Senegal, and they will take nothing else. As he wants more money for the Gold Coast, and does not want to spend money on Gambia — which is in debt, and must have a grant—and thinks a Mohammedan tribe which has recently advanced to the coast is very much inclined to sweep us into the sea, Lord Carnarvon, like Lord Kimberley, has been inclined to trade, though not very anxious to do it. If Parliament, however, prefers voting money for the Gold Coast to giving up a position on the Gambia, the matter remains absolutely within the control of Parliament. There was no debate, but it is nearly certain the Houses would dislike giving up British subjects merely to save money, for that is what it amounts to, and the project had better be dropped, as it was dropped before.
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