New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-27
4 STRONGER POLICY IN EGY PT

A
The British Government have lost so much
prestige by a persistent policy OF shilly-
shally in Egypt that they may make
resolute effort to retrieve their reputation.
Their caution and yacllation have excited
popnlar resentment as we'll as partisan
clamors. Diplomatic chatter has not oecn
of anv avail. The European conference Is
as flmsy a makeshift as the various MIN
isteriol COMPROMISES which have been ar
officially devised. The emergency cannot he
met by sentimental theories or European COM
pacts Physical, not mora. force Is needed. "A
strong policy in which energy will DC coupled
with foresight is demanded by the lnteiilgence
of the country. Mr. Gladstone has allowed
Lord Granville to pursue strictly negative
policy by which France has been kept uhuer
restraint and the suzerain rights OF the fofte
and the moral effects OF international pre-
cedents have been languidly urged. Mean
while matters on the Nile have gone from
bad 70 worse until several hundred Europeans
have been butchercd, the authority OF the
sovereign has passed into the hands OF re-
bcllious Mayor of the Palace, and the group OF
Pachas who govern in COnstantlnople ale shown
to be acting in collision with the military MOB
in Alexandria Something besides dispatch
writing is required Ii Mr. Gladstone can have
the courage to break away from policy OF
narrow expedients, and to act with lrmness,
| yigor and foresight he will be heartily sup
ported by the country. The latest news IN
dicates that he is moving in that direction.
The rumor that active military preparations
| had been begun and that force of 5000 men
|
but our special cable dispatches have contained
| a positive announcement that the commanders
| in Malta and Alden have received orders to hold
| themselves in readiness to detach portion
! Of their garrsons for special service. and that
| rcinforcements are to be sent out from Eng
land Here is the promise of something besides
| diplomacy.
| Berlin is the diplomatic capital OF Europe
| where the signs of the times are read win I'M
| errinc Judgment, and it seems to be admitted
there on all sides that the responsibility OF pro-
| tectine the Suez Canal by landing troops at
| Port said properly devolyes upon one OF the
| Great Powers Now tins is the only ground on
| which an English statesman can justify mill
| tarv intervention. The Government Is not
under any obligation to secure the payment OF
the bondhoIders interest. British investors
take their own risks when they purchase the
! securities of AN Oriental country, ana they nave
no right to expect that their rights Will be made
| a cause of war; nor can the maintenance o1 inc
| financial control he made an ultlmatum. treat
| Britain and France have jointly exercised
! under a special firman rigid supervision ol
| the financial administration, and the bond
| holders interests have been promoted by the
arrangement But they are not under any Cd
LEGATION TO maintain that system OF supervision
ot the point of the bayonet. They have not
guaranteed regular payments of interest to
the Khedive's creditors, nor are they responsible
for the internal administration of the country.
They ought to use their influence to secure
administrative reforms, but if their advice be
unhecdcd they have no right to make war,
even if the Ministers are changed twenty
times q wear. But there is one interest which
Great Britain is bound TO protect even at the
risk of a campaign. That interest Is the Sc
cnrity of the Sucz Canal. 1t is the highway to
India. 1t is the geographical centre OF a vast
commercial system. 1t is Il fundamental IN
terest of the British Empire of to-day. Every
| Englishman who believes III lighting Tor any
| thing of vital concern will recognize the
right of the Government to protect that canal
/ anu to secure the independence Oh lnc COUNTY,
through which 1t passes.
But the canal cannot be defended at present
by hosting the British and French colors at
Port Said and Suez, nor by stationing ileet OF
iropclads of Alexandria. The isthmus must be
occupled in force, for although a body of marines
might be landed under the plea of self-defence,
Arabs military mob with the population be-
hind it would look upon it as an act OF az
erosion to be resented either 10y military
demonstration, a massacre of Europeans or a
wanton destruction of public works. The time
has passed when a single cOrporaPs platoon
would have the weight of the British Empire
The occupation will have to be made i'll force
and when earthwoTks have been thrown up Oh
the Isthmus the demand for the disarmament
or reorganization of Arabi's army will have
to be enforced. 1t is most harassing under
taking and Mr.. Gladstone is not a statesman
who will derive personal satisfaction from
mastering it in detail. land bill or finance
measure is more to his taste. But he know'
that the control of the canal is essential tC
England's commercial prosperity, and that ii
a crisis like the present he must adopt strong
aggressive policy.
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4 YERY COMMON CASE