Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-14
The Egyptian Crisis.
New York Tribune, II.

The Egyptian Crisis.
New York Tribune, II.
The exact position Of the Khedive
of Egypt is one of those vexed ques-
tons among internationa jurists which
have never yet been exactly settled.
After the expulsion Of the French,
Mehemet Ali, an Albanian adventurer
born in Roumelia, was proclaimed
ViceoFy by the Cairene Shiekhs in
1905. He became sole master of
Egypt, and organized a powerful army
and navy. Having annexed the Sou
dan be conquered Syria, aud annihila-
ted the Turkish army at Koniah in
1882. But for the interference Of the
Russians he would have entered Con-
s~tantinople. The Treaty of Kutaieh,
concluded between the Porte and its
vassal, recognized the feudal over
eighty of Mehemet Ali over Egypt,
Crete, Syria, and the large district Of
Adana. Var broke out again IN 1892,
in which England espoused the cause
Of the Turks, aud in 1910 a treaty was
made to which Great Britain Prussia,
Russia and Austria were all parties.
Under this treaty Egypt became a self
governing province. The order of
succession was fixed in accordance
with the imperial rule Of descent, and
Mehemet Ais right was guaranteed,
subject only to a tribute payable to
the Sultan, and a limitation a. to the
number Of the Egyptian army. So
mstters continued until his death and
during the short reigns of his three
successors. In 1863 Ismail Pasha
succeeded to the throne, and a new
epoch opened in the history of the
country. The official relation OF the
ruler Of Egypt to the Porte still con-
tinued. Ismail was only q vail, or
Governor General. With this posi-
ton be was not eentent. Shortly
after his succession be opened negoti-
atoms with the Porte, and By iucreas-
ing the annual tribute from s376.O 900
10 $4,000, obtained the title Of
Khediv-el- Misr, 0. King of Egypt.
with the succession direct to his eldest
son. But the old limitations against
contracting debts without leave Of the
Porte, or entering into commercial
treaties, still continued. In 1872 an.
other frmsn was issued which confer
red on him every attribute Of sover-
eighty except the right of being
represented By ambassadors, trammel-
led only By an increased tribute and
military aid in time Of war. Both
these frmans we're communicated TO
and acknowledged and approved By all
the great powers.
The status - created has puzzled
the juIists ever since. Sir Robert
PhillimoTe, in the case of Charkieh.
decided against the claim Of the Khe-
dive to sovereign rank. Wheaton.
however, takes a different view, and
regards the Khcdiye as a sovereign.
Even in 1888, under the efeminate
rule Of Abbas Pasha, when il was
thought that the Tanzimat or charter
Of reforms granted by the Porte was in
force in Egypt, the claim was success
fully repudiated. The difficulty which
the ~iurists and diplomatists are now
called upon to face is this: If the
Khedive is a sovereign in his own
right subject only TO the rendering Of
feudal dues to his chief, what right
has the Sultan 10 step in and insist
upon the Egyptians receiving again
the hated Giaour2 And, indeed, the
indisposition of the Sultan TO inter
fere is not difficult to understand, il
we look at the matter from his point
Of view. His authority over Che
country. such as it is, is recognized BY
all the powers. Even Arab Bey
admits the Sultan's rights while
declining to trust himself in Constan-
tinople. And the Sultan may natur-
ally be expected to regard the outbreak
in Egypt from a Moslem point Of view.
He evidently thinks the present state
Of affairs is entirely due TO English
and French interference, and that the
movement is a Legitimate and national
attempt to throw off the foreigner.
The Porte may also have other views.
Should Arab ultimately dethrone the
Kledive the present status quo, so faI
as the reigning family is concerned,
would cease. ALI the rights OF
the Khedive would 20 with It. ANY
bargains made either with Mehemei
Ali or Ismail would by such an event
be annulled. The Sultan could then
enter into new negotiations with q
new reigning power and obtain an
increased tribute. II, on the other
hand, Arab should be suppressed
either by England or other powers
the authority Of the Sultan will be-
acknowledged by them without his
riskingthe opportunity of a new deal
On these grounds the hesitation o.
the Sultan to intervene becomes moi
only reasonable, but the best policy
for his own interests, and on such only
can he be expected to act.
"a Woman's Perils; or. Driven
from Home" in press and to be issued
in a few days by /. b. Peterson 4
Brothers, Philadelphia, is a brilliant
breezy and delightful Southern novel
Iova and treach arv upita N o;vo /;