The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

however, denied by the Ottoman Ministry. 113'
things stand at present, we have the Pacha and that'
company in dispute about details ; and the Si%
(as reported) determined on arranging the w"r
affair summarily, by ignoring the rights of eitheA
party, acting exactly as if he had never before heare
the matter mooted ; and threatening to do, we Pre.,'
sunie vicariously through the Pacha, that whicb,l;
point of fact, both combined would not dare, °Die°
assured of other support, to attempt. Mee/16:111e'
the works on the canal are steadily
progress
Foreign free labour has been procured in abundencq
to replace the forced labour of the fellahs. Aridly
we are to believe M. de Lesseps's report to
shareholders, the canal is, beyond all doubt, to be
teo
speedily and successfully completed. The aPPealbe
the Emperor Napoleon's generosity, should itbis
made, may be acceded to without de!riment t°
olg;
' honour; for a man may voluntarily revise his °I,
decision and amend it without discredit, should, 05
find it on investigation to be unjust. That inol,,ven
but a detail in the principal transaction; but wu
the entire property is, we may say, about to be Te
to rec°l:d
propriated by one who asserts his right
the gift altogether, and when the person threato.l3,,d
with deprivation is not only able, but deterto%
on maintaining possession, why then the matter
the
comes serious, and all the more so as in this ea° id
dispute, if carried to the extent of hostilities, Ono(
certainly disturb the already precarious Peecetto
Europe. The Emperor Napoleon has fon' evt
outset given the support of his Governolbis
and his own personal countenance to ,Atpv.
vast undertaking ; and he has so fully
d
tified himself with M. de Lesseps'a Pr
ings that, on the strength of his approbation ke,sed
implied protection, that gentleman has been eneuLls,
to form a powerful company, composed exelsbicehi
of French subjects, and supported exclusivelY
French capital; and, no matter what mai °.,,,e,0t
even should war ensue, the French Govern' f
cannot now, even were it so disposed, back out of
its responsibility to its own people. Submiesi°ll4.
the dictates of the Sultan would not only be ;$2
sidered as a swindle, from a financial point of vie d
but from a political one it would be regarded and
denounced as a cowardly sacrifice of French he,l3„°d.
and interests to the hostile intrigues of Eng's':o
The works are still being continued, and it re tunal,
to be discovered " who's to stop them." But io
amicable adjustment of this Suez Canal queelitol
a matter of grave importance to Englanucnse
naturally excites much inquietude amongst those
who have attended diligently to the different Phtv...
through which it has already passed. Our
went„ have at all times turned the project into I.; it
cute, as incapable of paying its cost. But
appears that they have made attempts at CO st,"„tv
tinople to persuade the Sultan to withdraw h'enba
sent and forbid all further progress. There es big
no doubt, however, that should he persevere in bit
reported present intention, and should tolesacte
attempt to carry out his orders and 1:0 dee
workmen, a French force would be instantlY te,
spatched for their protection. Would the Ftrio
in such a case, aid the Pacha with Tsr—ere
troops ? We cannot believe it, unless it were
is
well assured of powerful assistance. England in
the only country, save France, at all intereete
the matter. Are we to suppose that our Gt°rTetee
meat are prepared to involve us in a war „,"°;,13?
purpose of supporting the pretensions of the 'tl"-upit
But, on the other hand, should the Pache'vsorte
posing he were peremptorily ordered by the -01 e,
to interfere and stop the progress of thew °"eut
refuse to do so, would the Gttoman Govers°3,bat
venture to coerce him ? We cannot believe ity
it would hazard a step which must of necess re;
embroil it with one of its hitherto chief
unless encouraged and induced to act bY,scire.
underhand promptings, which, supposing tut.) vet
ports in circulation are well founded, are s:
kept secret from the British public. Tha; tb°
Pacha would decline to obey the orders e' rdg
Porte were he called upon to act hostilely tcriTore
the agents of the Suez Canal Company is large
than probable—first, because he has a verY,
personal interest in the undertaking, or "tee
because he might have no objection, unuer
aegis of France, to raise a dispute with Torso
which might eventually restore Syria to 800 0•
cloyernd
rid him of his vassalage. That the French
protectowo
ment must at any risk defend the possessiehs %at
stipulated rights of the canal company, we
be attacked, cannot be doubted ; and, wile° the
bear in mind that the French have, ever since of
time of the Republic, entertained a strong deeire,ho
the possession of Egypt, we can appreciate the
danger of affording them a legitimate excuse
sending an armed force there, should t