The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-11-13 00:00:00

Monet Con* Exprem

DORCHESTER. NOVEMBER 13th, ISSI.

OUR POLICY IN EGYPT.

The partial withdrawal of /Wettish troops from
Egypt, which is is d to be now ordered, is outran to
cams • great deal of controversy, Lord Hartingt
has been found much fault with for anticipating the
period of withdrawal, but In doing so he no doubt
expressed the intentioo of his wollengues so ter as the
mein principle warn ooncerned, it having been the
desire of the Government from the beginning to avoid
having another India on their hands. Here is the
point of difference. Responsible statesmen would like
to see Egypt independent and self-governing; those
who have not the responsibility of power would rather
that the country should be under the direct rule of
Hoglaud. As in many other questions, however, the
effect would be the name, though the mesas might be
altogether different. It is not to be supposed that
because ministers confound*, e withdrawing our soldiers
that they would allow Egypt to fall under the control
of any other Poser. Nor I. it t 3 be imagined.
OD the other band, that the opposition would
recommeud Mao acquirement of the country ea •
colony of the Crown. At least. this is not put
forward. What the, advantage would be in main.
laming five or sight th 'wand troops, when three
thousand would do, it is difficult to imagism,. There
ars no teeming millions is Egypt, aa there we in
India, to render • mutiny at any moment possible.
With the knowledge and Influence WO POODOSO, •
small body of men ought to be as effective es a large
number ; and when the Government spank of order-
ing home troops, they mean that they hare calculated
the requiremesta of the ouuntry, and will do no
more than safety permits. lithistiore have •
double duty to perform. They have to regard the
political interests of England; at the same time,
they mast keep in view the moral atioemitlim of
the position. The eyes of Europe are still on
them, and British honour may be said to Os
ow its trial. We sowed the wind in the ease of
Cyprus ; It la by no means certain we shall
not have to reap the whirlwind. Since that Wend
1,111 acquired, neither the oondttion nor policy of eon-
thasetal nations has been the same. The immediate
result was Trench aggrandlasment in Tonle—some say
It was • portion of the bargain; then followed the
ninth enterprise in Madagascar; and, whether for
good at ill, there are at present 'Maggot which are the
direct result of what to England was a new departure
of policy. It la not desirable that the policy should
be oontineed ; and if the G ovum:lent can exhibit
comb of an opposite teedsooy, it will be better for
our national honour, and probably better forth. pesos
of the world. It cannot be too soon understood that
our object in Egypt le to advise rather than to conquer.
Counsel we have given in abundance, and we have
established an undoubted right to en that our advice
Is followed. The question is whether our aims
may not be as effectually accomplished by •
few regiments of soldiers as by • considerable army.
It ought certainly now to be posible to entrust the
Egyptian people with the task of self-government
To preserve order and to encourage self help are the
&ties we have t perform. By self .help we mean
such a strengthening of resources as will prevent
Egypt ever falling • prey to • single European
power. Some osmosis are of opinion that this will be
• very long process—perhaps it will be. It will be
coos the shorter, however, for our mtiotaining • large
body of troops in garrisons, which might be guarded
with equal efficiency by native soldiers. Nor can it be to
the interest of this oountey to irritate the natives by
• continued exhibition of dominance. In the interests
of this country, of SOP, and of Europe, therefore,
It will be expedient to reduce our occupying force as
soon so we can prudently do so.