The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-15 00:00:00

EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

CAIRO, May 9,

At a conference held yesterday Mukhtar -Pasha
asked for explanations of Lord Itosebery's despatch,
and endeavoured to obtain a modification of the
British refusal to advance the troops. Sir H. D.
Wolff, with much tact, maintained that such an
advance of the troops was beyond the terms of the
Convention, which was limited to the pacification, not
the invasion, of the Soudan. Mukhtar Pasha, with
some impatience, here asked for a definite pacification.
"Does it," he said, "mean abandonment? Can the
Empire be expected to abandon the province? Is its
patience unlimited? What course would England
adopt with a revolted province? Would she conquer
it or abandon it ? ' Sir H. D. Wolff replied:
"By pacification I mean such a condition of the
Soudan as protects the frontier against aggression.
It is obtainable either by voluntary submission or by
the creation of a friendly Government; but the ques-
tion whether pacification means abandonment should
be addressed to Turkey rather than to England, for
Turkey invented the expression. It is a matter of
public notoriety that when I asked the Ottoman dele-
gates whether they were disposed to send troops to
the Soudan they declined, and the Sultan reiterated
that he would not intervene except by pacific mea-
sures. That decision was taken when European
politics were undisturhed.. Since then seri;u3 events
have happened; but I have not heard that these
pacific views are altered. Your Excellency asks what
course England would adopt in a similar case. I
reply that she would probably reduce to order a re-
volted British province, but that, if she were occupied
with foreign complications, she might have to
exercise that patience which I recommended
to Turkey in similar circumstances. 3zfoklitar
Pasha then asked what pacific means Sir
H. D. Wolff recommended. Sir Henry replied:
"I must respectfully remind your Excellency that I
am precluded from all initiation. By the terms of the
Convention, and at the suggestion of the Porte, the
Khedive and the Turkish Commissioner are alone to
advise as to the pacific means to be adopted, keeping
the British Commissioner informed of them. My
part, therefore, is consultative. The first proposal
submitted to me in this capacity—the appointment of
a delegate at Wady Halfa—l have accepted. I shall
be always ready to confer with his Highness and your
Excellency as to further proposals ; but until the
receipt of the delegate's report I abstain from offering
any suggestion." The conference lasted an hour and
a half.

The difficulties as to the inquiry into the Daira
scandals have been arranged by the Controllers being
allowed seats on the Commission as assessors, with a
consultative voice only.
There is a conflict between the French and Egyptian
authorities, the former claiming as a French subject
the descendant of a wealthy family which migrated
from Algeria 100 years ago. The significance of this
As obvious when it is remembered that foreign nation-
ality withdraws a man from taxation and the juris-
diction of the criminal tribunals. In Egypt's interest,
the attempt should be resisted. The result has been
to cause the natives to show marked hostility against
the French.

Attempts are being made to obtain subscriptions
from Egyptian officials in aid of the Turkish military
preparations. The suggestion that these officials
should show their devotion by sacrificing a month's
pay is not accepted with enthusiasm, but it is fre-
quently submitted to through fear. English influence
should be exerted against this practical taxation for
the benefit of Turkey.
SOUAIMI, May S.
General Watson has assumed the duties of Gover-
nor General and the command of the garrison. Mar-
copoli Bey is Deputy-Governor. The last of the
Indians will leave on Tuesday. The Egyptians have
occupied the defences, and all is quiet. Small parties
of rebels are, however, in the vicinity. The Cygnet
has captured a dhow with a valuable cargo from
Jeddah, the cargo being intended for use in bartering
for slaves. The, prize has been condemned. The
Condor and Gannet are here. The Cygnet has left,
for Malta. The weather is pleasant, and the garrison
is healthy. Smallpox is dying out. There is no news
from the interior. All the transports and condensing
steamers have been ordered to England.
SOITAKIM, May 9.
The remainder of the British troops, together with
the Staff and the various military departments, sailed
hence tx,dsav on board the Geelong._