The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-05
Why Lord Duncrin Goes to Egypt.

land to Egypt could be offered than the
despatch to Cairo Of the most skilful diplo-
matist In the British service. Tho text Of
The instructions given Lord DuFFERTN is, OF
course, not known, but thcrA is no secret
about the main questions regarding which
he is expected to obtain exhaustive informa-
tion and suggest q satisfactory solution.
An experienced observer like Lord DUF-
FERN will be able, for instance, to answer
the fundamental inquiry whether the Khc-
dives Government can be permanently re-
established without the continuous presence
OF British army in the country. During
the progress of hostilitics, the British Minis
try persisted in looking upon the movement
directed by ARABI Pasha as a mere mill
tary conspiracy, and declared that the
mass of the Egyptian population re-
manned loyal to their legitimate ruler
Members of the Cabinet repeatedly avcrred
In the House of Commons that England was
not at war with Egypt, but was simply as
sisting an ally put down a rebellion which
had nothing in common with popular rev.
oluton. Grave doubts of the correctness OF
this view have been aroused since tho occu-
patton OF Cairo by the accounts OF the popu-
lar hostility to the Khedivc which, according
to English correspondents, exists not only in
the capital, but throughout the Nile valley.
Whatever may be the cause OF the phenome-
non-whctheI it should be ascribed to the be-
lief that the Sultan favored the rebellion or
to the hope that by the overthrow of the
Khedive the country might fling off the bur-
den Of the foreign debit now seems toler-
ably clear that movement originally con-
Hpnl tn tho military md official al did
in its latter stages acquire national proper
tions.
That the British Ministry have received
new light upon this subject is plain enough
from tho language used night or two ago
by Mr.. GLADSTONE when he virtually adj
mitted that England had lately found her.
self involved in war with Egypt. Now, al
though the Liberal Premier, on discovering
the insecurity Of the Khcdive's position, con-
scented to leave an English force OF some
$4,000 men for certain length Of time in the
Nile land, he has probably no wish to place
there permanent garrison. At all events,
II he took step so contrary to his known
predictions and professions, he would do it
by virtue OF an arrangement which would vir-
tually make Egypt an English colony, and
not in order to uphold by British bayonets
ruler odious to a whole people. II Prince
TEwFIK. cannot recover the good will
and loyalty with which the house OF
MEHEMET ALI was long regarded by
its subjects, and IL the attempt now
making by BAKER Pasha to organize
native force adequate to the Khedive's pro-
lection should prove unsuccessful, the British
Government will have to abandon the idea OF
restoring the repudiated sovereign. But if
TEwFIK cannot sustain himself, what is to
be done with Egypt? Where cana successor
be found who would be at once acceptable to
the European powers and to the Egyptians
Or should the Egyptian people be left to gov
ern themselves? In the latter case, where
would be the guarantees of stable admins
tration strong enough to insure the safety
OF the Suez Canal, to say nothing Of the pay
ment Of interest to foreign bondholders
This preliminary question of TEwFIK's abili-
ty to govern is one which Lord DUFFERIN
will be called upon to investigate narrowly
and promptly, for the British Ministry can
not defer submitting their whole pro-
gramme OF action in relation to Egypt later
than the next session Of Parliament.
The supersesson OF the joint control is
another matter about which the British Gov
eminent seems likely to experience more diff
ficulty than was at first anticipated 1t has
been taken for granted that the French Cham
Der OF Deputies. by refusing to vote CEN
time for military expedition, had signified
complete indifference to retaining the share
Of control heretofore exercised by the French
Comptroller General. 1t was in consequence
Of that vote that the DUCLERc Ministry
took office, and nobody supposed it would
irit han hn 7 nrric lnt,
which created it. In fact, at recent meet
ing of the French Cabinet majority OF the
members present were in favor of agreeing
to the abolition of the joint control. although
they well understood that English func-
tionarles would in such case have the
exclusive oversight OF the Egyptian finances.
This policy, however, was opposed with
the utmost vehemcnce by the Gambet-
fist minority in the Cabinet, and so
strong a reaction in favor OF GAMDErTA has
of late taken place in public opinion that
the French Premier seems to have been I'M
willing to take any decided step in the way
OF surrendering French claims before the re-
assembling OF the Chamber. Accordingly,
on Friday of last week NJ. BREDIF, the French
Comptroller, was instructed to demand why,
ina7much as the joint control had not been
| abolished by decree OF tho Khediye, he had
not been invited to attend the meetings of
the Egyptian Ministry. This unexpected re-
fusal OF the French Government to accept the
| consequences OF its own pusillanimity-its
| cool assertion of a right to continue reaping
where 1t declined to sow-may force Lord
GRANvILLEs hand and compel him to bring
the question of the future management OF
the Egyptian finances to an immediate issue,
whereas he wished to defer it until Englands
solution OF ali the questions raised by the
Egyptian imbrogio can be submitted to
| conference Of the powers.
The observations and.suggcstons Of a man
like Lord DUFFERIN will also go far to re-
lieve the British Government from another
serious embarrassment. He can extrcatc
the GLADSTONE Ministry, IL anybody can,
from the prcdicamcnt in which they are in
volved by their inconsistent action regarding
ARAB Pasha. The leader Of the Egyptian
insurrcction. surrendered himself as n prs-
| nnnr y ,uor To thn priti ch ,,,h,