Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-15

Events Which Preceded the lombard.
Aents

Events Which Preceded the lombard
nents
THE SITUATION ExPLAINED-THE KHEDIvES-
THE ALEXANDRIA RIOTS AND THEIR CoNsE-
DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE PORTE AND THE
GREAT POWERS
The crisis in Egyptian affairs, which reached
the eliminating point ON Monday in tbs bomb
ardment of Alexandria by the English war ships,
has bee1 of such gradual growth, and the
causes leading to it SO obscured by conflicting
interests, that it is difficult for a foreigner,
especially an American, to comprehend exactly
the real situation. This confusion of ideas is
not at all surprising when the complex condition
of Egyptian politics and the continental
character of the questions in dispute are
taken into consideration. 1t is not a mere
quarrel between two nations, where the d.
vding lines between the contending parties are
clearly defined, but it involves in the first place
an internal conflict. party denOminated as
the national party, with the popular battle cry Of
Egypt for Egypt and opposition to foreign
ers is arrayed against the constitutional gov
eminent under the khedive. Then there is the
Sultan CT Turkey governing Egypt as prov
ince, whose power Is deiied. AS if the situation
was not sufficiently complicated, England steps
in on the plea that her interests in the
Suez canal and the rights of the
English holders of Egyptian bonds are
endangered. France also claims right OF in
reference In the interests of her bondholders,
| and through this entangled web Of domestic
and foreign complications is mingled the dis
seminatiOn and treachery of oriental diplomacy.
In order to obtain as clear a view as possible
through the clouds and mists that overhang
the present phase of Egyptian affairs. it will be
necessary to go back some years. and follow up
some of the threads in this entangled maze.
Beginning then with the origin of the present
government, it is a matter of history that the
province came into dispute first in 1899, when
Napoleon invaded it and made it a dependency
of france. England held its neutrality vital for
her interests in the Mediterranean and the
famous victory of Nelson on the Nile was the
result. The French were chased from the coun-
try and the province restored to the suZerainty
OF the Sultan. Since then the ruling power
has, through various revolutions and vicissi-
tubes. become more and more Independent of
the Porte, until to-day the khedive is virtually
an irresponsible ruler-Save where the advice
and consent of his foreign advisers is necessary.
The advice and control are founded on the
rights or European stockholders whose money
has for years been paid to the reigning Pashas.
Egypt.
The Khedive Ismai father of the present
ruler Tewfik, was put upon the throne in 1867
by the intrigues of the Emperor Napoleon.
Ismai Pasha was not born to the Egyptian
throne. He was younger brother, and death
only made way for his restless, intriguing am
bition. Educated in Paris, he joined the lax
habit of the empire to the unchecked instincts
of the Oriental. In the feyerish atmosphere
of the court OF Napoleon III. his better instincts
were scOrched, and lie set before himself the
most lgnObic models. A perfect master of the
art OF guile, he Outwitted the most astute diplo-
mat!Sts. and the Sublime Porte itself repeatedly
lous as he was subtle and able. When, by the
death of mis- brother, Ismal was called to the
throne In 1O67-very much against the real wish
OF the Sublime Porte which acceded only to the
strong request OF Napoleon uI.-the Sardana-
palian character of the young man was we'll
known. He took the place of ruler of the four
million Egyptians not with the generous aspira-
ton of introducing the civilization that he had
mastered in Europe but rather with determ-
nation TO make that civilization serve him in
numbering more adrOitly his hapless subjects.
Though everything that had been done in the
country, from his accession to his deposition,
had been inspired in his own interest, it would
Oe a mistake to suppose that he had not ad-
vanced the country OF rather permitted foreign
ers to push it forward. When he came TO the
thrones there wasn't a railroad or canal in the
whole valley of the Nile. Now there is a perfect
network connecting all the various towns and
under his own supervision great part OF the
! t!llable soil has been put under paying cutiya-
ton.
English and French Control Of Egyp-
tihn Finances.
Ten years ago khedive Ismal was first
aroused by the circumstances of England and
France to the imperative results of his scanda-
lous and reckless administration of affairs. It
was under the knowledge of this intending
national bankruptcy that he signed conven-
ton in November, 1876 giving England and
France the virtual control over Eyyptjan
m "a ifnrc "A
have been, if not reimbursed, at least assured
OF the safety of their investments. Under the
cOmpulsion of foreigners he for the moment
| broke OIL his system of squandering, closed his
seragiiO, turned out doors his crOnies in sppcti-
lation. and for the moment discontinued his vast
and il-cons.dered plan for creating in Egypt an
army. navy and national establishment, Which
| nations of the first rank hnd it difficult to pay
Tor. Goschen, one OF the first English financiers
| was received by him, though somewhat sueniy
| as the representative of the English creditors
and JOubert, Frenchman of high reputation in
| command OF affairs, was delegated on the part
| OF France. The subsequent examination iIsti-
fled the worst apprehensions of foreign creditors
anu even alarmed the khedive himself Rivers
Wilson, an Englishman, was appointed con-
| troler OF the general receipts OF the country
and Blgnieres was appointed controller of gen
erai expenditure, and with these were associated
| four European commissioners of public debt
Protocols were drawn up By the English and
| french governments, protecting these control
lers, and to guard against the possibility. as it
was supposed of the astute Turk entrapping his
unwelcome saviors. Of course, with ruler
adverse to them. the foreigners found every
thing next to impossible in the way of reform
and though considerable advances were made
under the provisOnary system, it was found
that the khedve, being insincere, no permanent
| Improvement was possible. So, in November,
| 1873. new scheme was adopted by the consent
of the foreign governments. The khediye was
prevailed upon to surrender the private estates
OF himself ana family as the basis Of new ar
ranyement with the creditors. The English and
French governments reappointed Wilson and
! Blignieres as cO-trustees and the khediye, to
give ar earnest Of his desire to keep faith with the
creditors, appointed what was nominally called
q constitutional government under the pre-
miershp of Nubar Pasha; the Englishman and
/ Frenchman being nominally leaders of bureaux.
but really the directing financial minds The
English and French governments guaranteed
to stockholders that the two representatives
should by NO means be displaced by the Egyptian
| government without their consent. When Egypt
passed into the hands Of the Khedive in 1867 it
| was country of great natural, but wholly UNI
developed resOurces-it was cursed by the ORR
| entail system Of government which Is simply
waste, theft and oppression