New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-12
TIE EIRST STEP IN EGYPT.

| has been formally proposed in Egypt. The de-
cree has not been issued by the hhedlVe'
because, the Joint Control being European
arrangement, the consent of the Powers
must be secured in advance. The khe-
dive has invited the Powers to sanction
the change, and their acquiescence may be
safely assumed England would scarcely
have ventured to recommend so important Il
change without making diplomatic explahd-
tions. and the Khedve would not have acted
upon his own responsibility. Only one OF the
| Powers would have had any reason to oppose
the decree and since the rejection OF the vote
! of credit by the Chambers, France has had ohIy
a slight pretext for demanding a revival Oh the
Joint Control. Even the Gambettst PRINTS,
which have clamored persistently for the main
tenance of the former partnership nave net
been deceived by their own Illusions, Dut nave
renewed their importunate demands for the
sake of contrasting the barren results OF nom
intervention with the brilliant promises OF thelf
own leaders diplomacy when he was III ONCE
The Control was doomed from The moment
France refused to share with England the
labors OF the campaign and the responsibilities
of reorganization. Certain diplomatic Tor
malities have been requisite, but the abolition
of The Controls unavoidable, and, moreover
strictly logical.
The Joint Control dates from the year 1876
when at the request of the former hhediye
| Ismail, who had found it impossible to pay
interest on the debt, an English expert made
| report on Egyptian finance Mr.. Goschen ana
| NJ Joube1t on behalf of the English and French
bopdboldcrs, went to Cairo and proposed a
| scheme of supervision and settlement, which
became the basis of the Control. Two Con-
uOllers. General were appointed, one for re-
CENTS and the other for accounts, TO supervise
pavments, and, indeed the entire revenue OF
Egypt. MIR. Goschen has commended that this
urinary arrangement had no political signiii-
canoe and did not involve the English and
French Governments. An Engllslman was
appoiuted by the Khedive. A Frenchman was
nominated by the French Government but APP
nointed by the Khedlve Neither Government
was responsible for the conduct of either
official. Both Controllers were accountable to
the Khedlve, and to nobody else While Mr.
Goschen is justified in making a sharp distinc-
ton between the financial Control and the
political financial Control subsequently estab-
lished, he may lay undue stress upon the for
nal commission that was finally received from
the foreign Governments. lsmail recently
remarked in Paris that the Controllers We're III
a greater or less degree political agents from
the first and wished to Iue the country as well
as.manage its revenues. This was the ineyi-
table result of the spirit of international rivalry
which the employment of large numbers OF
foreigners directly promoted In 1879 lsmal
was deposed and the Control was renewed on q
distinctively political basis. The Controller
we're appointed 10y the foreign Government
and could rot be removed by the Khedlye
Their powers of administrative supervision
were somewhat curtailed, but they were
brought into permanent relations with th'
geneial politics of the country aud dispensed
patronage to a swarm of foreign officials
They were no longer the financial agents OF
the bondholders. They were the politica
AGENTS of rival foreign Governments.
This, then, was the nature of that polite al
financial partnership known as the Anglo
French Control, which is soon to be formal.
dissolved. While it restored order and system
in Egyptian finance and introduced extensiv
reforms in administration, it fostered inter
national iealouses, excited dissatisfaction il
the army and among educated natives, ant
multiplied opportunities for political inter
yentou. When the military revolt led to {
diplomatic crisis, the disadvantages o! TIN
Joint Control became apparent. When in
mediate action was urgently required, the tw
Governments were pulling i'll opposite dlrec
tons, and it was only after prolonged period o
diplomatic delay that England found herself il
n position to act alone. France having shirket
her responsibilities, there is no reason why
her successful rival should revive partner
ship which was unpopular in Egypt AM
worked badly III Europe. England should b.
re leased from all diplomatic ENHANCEMENT
and left at liberty to exert her influence II
Cairo IN improving the condition of the people
and restoring confidence in the KhedIve's ad
mlnistratlon. If she be true to her pledge
and avail herself of the rights of conquest only
for benefcent ends, the abolition of the Join
Control will be an unmixed good.
One other point remains to be considered
What substitute is to be found for the JOIN
Control 1t is probable that certain functions
of the Control will be transferred to the Public
Debt Commission, in which Great Britain,
France, Italy and Austria-llnugary are rep
resented. This body with other international
tribunals was in existence before the Goschen
Joubert DEGREES were signed, and so long as The
present degree OF order and regularity Is main
tanned in Egyptian finance. the interests OF thu
bondholders will not suiier If the Commits