The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-07
England's Attitude On the Eastern
QuestfOn.

Our exhaustive Sunday cable letter from
London describes very graphically the
bellicose attitude of England on the Turkish
question and her intrigues in Constantinople'
and after citing various extracts from the
English papers gives one from the Daily
Neaos as follows:-s'The idea of maintaining
Turkish Independence by British arms is
out Of tho question" We think we can give
the clew to the difference between the ap-
parent and real intentions of England.
1t is well known that before the deposition
of Abdul-A she had declined to accede to
the memorandum about to be presented to
the Turkish government by Austria, Russia
and Germany. She assumed an independent
position, and made q show Of maintaining it
by despatching war vessels to the East,
munitions of war and troops to Gibraltar
and Malta.
We think all this very capable of explana-
ton. Disraeli long ago said that England
was becoming an Asiatic Power. Since he
became Premier, in pursuance of that idea,
he has purchased nearly one-half interest in
the Suez Canal and contrived to affix to the
| Queens title that Of Empress of India
This distinguished writer, orator and
statesman has all the versatility of genius
from race and associations he is an Oriental,
both in thought and action. One can see
from his character of Sidonia and glow
ing Eastern sketches in ''Tancred" that his
mind is filled with ideas of Oriental gran
deur and magnifcence In his political
career he has always endeavored to startle
and dazzle and we now await his latest COUP
We think that all this political coquetry with
the great Powers, his seeming reluctance to
put pressure on Turkey, his declaration in
the House Of Commons of determination
to thwart the intrigues Of Russia, merely a
prelude to securing for Egypt severance Of
its vassalage from Turkey, when the Khedive
will become King of Egypt independent of
all except its new ally, England.
For since the Crimean war the balance of
power of Europe has completely changed;
Germany has become military counterpoise
to Russia; the latter might take CONSTANT
nople and occupy it as its winter capital
without in any way interfering with Eng
lands pathway to the East. With Egypt in
possession Of her ally, the Suez Canal in
that event virtually under her control. she
would have, beginning at Gibraltar, Malta,
the Suez Canal, Alden, great highway to
her Indian Empire guarded by chain of
magnificent fortresses, impregnable and un-
assailable SO long as she retains her vast and
dominant navy.
That this is no unreasonable speculation
on our part, but perfectly justified by past
events, we may gather from the late mission
of. Mr.. stephen Cave to Egypt to examine
the financial position of the Khedive. Mr.
Cave is Privy Councillor, member of
Parliament, and held position during
Mr.. Disraeli's last administration, and it is
unlikely that man Of his rank would be
sent to Egypt merely to oblige the Khedive
Certainly There might have been q minor
motive, and one which the Premier would
consider that John Bull would look on with
complacency-th of seeing whether any
future Egyptian dividends were likely to
come into his breeches pocket but, no
of future policy in that inquiry into Egypt's
resources and Indebtedness.
Itmay possibly interest our readers to know
how Mr. Cave found the finances and how it is
proposed to administer them in the future.
The funded debt amounts to G54, 793. 600
unfunded, ESQ., 207, 600; total, col, ZOO, 0O0
This it is proposed to consolidate into one
stock, bearing an interest Of seven per cent
per annum, redeemable in sixty-ive years,
by sinking fund set apart for that purpose.
The annual charge on this operation will be
&C, 443, 900, to meet which the Khedive as
signs a sum Of equal amount from the gross
revenue Of the country. which is upward
OF nine millions sterling. Further details
would be uninteresting to our readers The
Khedives prodigality has been enormous.
He has spent many millions in CONSTANT
nople in securing the rank of Khedive and
the hereditary succession in direct line !;
at the same time he has expended much on
the internal Improvements of the country
on magnificent docks, on the Suez Canal. on
various manufacturing establishments and
on railways These latter, in the year 1874,
gave seven hundred and fifty thousand
pounds net earnings and last year nine hun
dred thousand pounds, and it is evident these
will confer lasting benefit and greatly con-
tribute to develop the resources of the coun-
try. The Khedive also told Mr.. Cave that
he estimated his own private property at
twenty-one millions sterling. That he
knows how to spend his money in lavish
Oriental style is we'll known to all who have
visited Egypt
We might pursue this subject more in de-
tail |; but we have said enough to justify our
prophecy that before long we shall have
modern Pharaoh in Egypt
Grandfather Peters Canvass.
The apathy which is shown by our friends
of the press in presence Of the tact that
distinguished and illustrious citizen is in