New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-11
BEACONSFIELD'S EXPLOITS.
DEFYING PARLIAMENT AGAIN.


UNIVERSITY QUESTION - MUCH DIssATIsFAC-
TON.
FRoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNE.l
LONDON, June 2s.-Personal government has
scored two more riumphs this week; trlumphs of
the usual dubious kind one in foreign one IN do
nestle policy; one in Egypt one in Ireland. Let
us take Egypt frst both because it is ntrinsicaly
the more important, and because the specially Of
Lord BeacOnsiielPs governmental genius ssupposed
to lie in the brilliant conduct Of foreign affairs. For
many weeks past it has been known that something
was going on with reference TO Egypt Ever since
the Khedyc turned his English minister Mr. Rivers
Wilson, out of doors, the Opposition have been
making attempts in Parliament to induce Ministers
to say what they proposed to do about it--whether
they would put up with it or whether they would
resent it aud if they meant to resent II, in
what way they would signify their dis
pleasure. To all such questions the Government re-
turned but one answer that negotiations were pro-
ceedng and that the public interest would not per-
INIT them to be disclosed. IL was known that
france was In favor OF more energetic policy than
Lord Salisbury cared to enter upon for
reasons have heretofore explained. Presently it
became known that Prince Bismarck had turned
his attention to the Egyptian question. 1t is sup
posed that ne ntimated, in his usual way that the
state of things on the Nile had become a nuisance
to Europe, and that something must be done: that
he was perfectly willing France or England or both
together, should deal with the Khediyc, if they
could make up their minds what TO do; but that if
they did not act he would. Under the stress of this
suggestion France and England came to terms
They agreed that the Khedve should be deposed
and that, inasmuch as the dispatch of an armed
force would be equally nconvcncnt to both of these
Powers the deposition should be accomplished bya
decree Of the Sultan. And it has been. lsma has
fallen after some resistance, but without blow
struck, and Tewiik, his son, rules over the land Of
the Pbaraohs. Ismail departs for Constantinople
Tor elsewherc) with pension of S250O00 year on
the civil list. and another of 100000 to be paid
him by Tewfk.
On the face of it Won may once more parody the
saying Of Louis NNliI., and remark with calmness
that nothing is changed that there is only Turk
tho less in Egypt. But in truth there a Turk the
more. The Sultan, who since 1873 has been only
the suzeran of Egypt resumes his own sovereignty
over 1t. The Khedige was lord in his own domin-
ions, could make treaties in his own name, had an
army Of his own and debt of his own carried on
negotiations directly with his creditors and with
the European Powers, and was independent in
every thing but name and in the payment of trib-
ute to the Porte. and brides TO the Sultan'S Minis
tcrs and mistresses. But France and England have
oyerthrOwn this state of things They invoked the
authority of the Sultan to depose lsmal-an
thority which the Sultan unsupported would never
have Yentured to exercise-and to set up TeWfk in
his place. The Sultan, like the willy Oriental he is,
seized the occasion to cancel the decree by which he
granted quasi-indcpendence to lsmail, and to es
| tabsh Tewiik, not as a ruler over an autonomous
| kingdom, but as Pacha over a province that once
more rcapses into Turkish servitude.
Considering that England has for thirty years
7 Ct Twin 70 spna nj "a
completely possible this latest stroke Of her d
plomacy, if it be triumph is, said, a triumph
of the most dubious kind. This Government has
reversed the policy of its predecessors both Tory
and Liberal, and its own policy well, so far as
Egypt Is concerned. 1t has done this just ii has
done so many other acts of State, without the
knowledge Of Parliament or of the country. 1t has
steadily denied to both the of knowing what
was going on till ITS purpose had been accomplished,
and till nothing but unayailing remonsrance left
TO those who disapprove the new departure For
five years past Lord Beaconsfeld has maintained
the necessity of strengthening English influence in
Egypt. He exactcd an gagement from Russia, at
the beginning Of the RussO-Turksh war, that Egypt
should remain outside the sphere of hostilities.
He bought the SueZ Canal shares for the same rea-
son. He sent al English Minister to Cairo to re-
form Egyptian finance. And now, at the very mo-
ment when English influence at COnstantinople is
al It's lowest ebb, he releases his hold Cairo and
suffers the Porto to its old control over the
whole country, Suez Canal included, where English
interests are so important, and where the continu
ance Of English influence has been overland over
again represented as "A vital necessity.
There must be some explanation OF all this. An
exclamation OF some sort will doubtless be
forthcoming at an early day-prObably before
you read these lines Plausible extenuatlOn
of ITS least defensible acts has never been
wanting in the mouth of this astonishing
Government. But the only motive which at the
moment / can think of rs likely to have
really swavcd Lord Beaconsfelds decision is the
old one which has done duty on so many memora-
able occasions since he has been in power This
last niece of work strengthens the Ottoman Gov
erumeut. II lands over Egypt to the Porte to be
onnressed and plundcrcd for the behoof of Porte
and Palace in Stamboul, instead OF the knedlye.
! But it will be difficult for Lord Beaconsfeld to
ayow such motive Though the Turk still has
friends in England. there IA longer any consd-
cradle party which will listen with patience to
confession that Turkish interests have been pro
| NOTED at the expense of English interests. But
) that il what Lord Beaconsheld must aYow II he
! oyows that il il for the Turks sake that he has
! effected this revolution IN Egypt. 1t is far more
| Iil,cIv that he will put it on different ground
that he will fence and tempOrize aud treat his tel-
! low lords once more to display of those glitter
inc geuerlIties IN which he and they alike delight
BE the reason alleged what it may, of the process
! by which the result has been accomplished but
onc thing can he SAID Parliament has been con-
ducted bIlndfold. ignorant and helpless along the
ro,d by winch it suited Lord Beaconshed to
! travel.
TRIUMPH number two was achieved on the Irish
| Iru,versity question. Whoever cares anything
abont chat matter will recoect that on the eve of
,bc nr.enr session. active negotiations were entered