The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-22
To-day's Conference About Egypt.

| TO-day's Conference About Egypt.
II appears to be decided that conference
| OF the six great powers will take place to-day
in Constantinople. Whether an agreement,
| however, will be reached is uncertain, and the
fall in consols, caused by orders to sell sent
from the Continent, indicates an impression
that tho troubles In the Nile land may yet
lead TO serious European complications.
That the interests of the powers repre-
scented in the Congress are widely divergent
is sufficiently obvious Russia cannot deem
it advantageous to herself that England
| should acquire more complete control over
the maritime highway 10 Asia than she now
possesses, and Italy is strenuously opposed
| to any further extension Of French influence
In North Africa. What Germany and Austria
will do nobody knows but BISMARCK, and we
must ascribe to misglvings regarding his in
tentions tho reported depression in the Eng
| lish funds.
II England and France, the two great naval
powers of the world had been thoroughly at
one concerning the policy to be pursued in
Egypt, they could probably have afforded to
| Disregard the wishes of the other European
States in this matter, for their control over
the Khedive's finances had been formally
sanctioned, and even BISMARCK would not
have been supported by public opinion In an
| effort to prevent the assertion of their ac-
| knowledgcd rights. Had the Western powers
| taken care to have an adequate body oftroops
| In readiness in the harbor of Alexandria be-
| fore their Consuls presented their ultmatum,
| the Khcdive in all likelihood would have been
able to maintain his authority, the outbreak
| and massacre in Alexandria would not have
taken place, and we should not have wit
messed u complete exodus of Europeans from
Egypt.
But the difficulty has been that England and
France have not heretofore concurred re-
| garding the method of dealing with the
question, and it is doubtful whether they are
even now agreed. Lord GRANVILLE has al
ways favored Turkish Intervention, and
had his plan been accepted by NJ. DE FREY
CINET a month ago, we have ground for
thinking that the Porte would have eagerly
assented to it. But the French Minister con-
sidered that the interests Of his coun-
try in Tunis and Algiers would be
injuriously affected by rehabilitation OF
Ottoman influence in the Nile land, and he
firmly refused the cooperation Of the Sultan
up to the time when the riot In Alexandria
uttuOUSlIdUcu Tic Vi hhABl ldSut
for the Western powers. Even then, when
the slaughter Of hundreds of Europeans was
directly chargeable ON the folly and timidity
of the French Premier, the latter still evinced
reluctance either to take bold course
himself, or to invoke the interference OF
ABDUL-HASiID, rs the suzerain Of the Khe-
dive and proper upholder Of order In his
vassal's territory. 1t was NJ. DE FREYCISEr
who insisted that II Turkey interposed it
must be not as suzerain, but as the manda-
tory Of the allied powers, and that
accordingly conference must be held
for the purpose OF issuing the mandate.
The motive for the distinction thus drawn by
army went to Egypt merely as the instru-
ment of Europe, 1t could not well refuse to
depart when its mission was accomplished,
and to leave the civil administration of the
country to be adjusted by the powers here
tofore permitted to exercise n fiscahcontrol.
1t is natural, however, that the Sultan
should prefer to interpose in Egypt on his
own behalf and not as the servant of Chris
tian States. He unquestionably possesses
rights Of suzerainty over Egypt, and re-
ceives largo sum annually by way
OF tribute from that country. No Mus
sulman, therefore, in Egypt or elsewhere
in North Africa would question his right
to sustain the cause OF his vassal
against a rebellious subject, provided
the interference took place in his own name
But the dignity and influence Of the Ottoman
Caliph would be rather diminished than en-
HANGED by the restoration Of the Khedves
authority, If the step were known to have
been taken at the bidding and in the interest
OF the European powers. The Commander
of the Faithful cannot afford to be re-
garded as mere policeman in the
pay of Christendom. From the Porte's
point OF view it is entirely justified in
refusing to participate In the conference
which takes place to-day, for the acceptance
Of mandate to execute the projects of the
Congress in country which legally forms
part OF the Ottoman dominions would irrep-
arably degrade the Sultan In the eyes of his
own subjects.
1t is conceivable, however, that in the
end ABDUL HAND may consent to fill
this role. degrading as it would be,
from conviction that the occupation
OF Egypt by England and France would be q
worse calamity, and in the hope that, once at
Cairo, his army might find some pretext for
remaining. On the other hand if the Sultan
firmly refuses to act as the mandatory of the
conference, and protests against the occupa-
ton of his vassals land by other powers, it
is possible that some voices may be raised
in the conference in favor of recognizing
his rights of suzerainty, and requesting him
in that capacity to undertake the paciilcation
of the Nile country. Should such course
be adopted by Germany and Austria, it is
almost certain that Italy or Russia, and per-
haps both the last-named powers would side
with them, in which event France and Eng
land would be left in pitiable predicament
And in any case they have nothing to gain
from the conference now assembled which
they could not have won for themselves
month ago by the resolutc assertion of rights
which had been conceded to them.
Not a Political Murder.