Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-10
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY EVENING, JULY 10, 1882.

EGYPT IS inevitably destined, it seems,
tobccome famous battle ground i'll our day, |
and ere this is read the combined fleets OF
Europe may have opened fire on the fortili-
cations of Alexandria. Where this trouble
will end no one knows, and divers gloomy
forecasts are drawn by those posted in the
present political condition of the land of the
Pharaohs Among the present circum-
stances which give such grave Importance to
"the Egyptian Question the following seem
especially to call for mention: The init
mate connection ofthe future of Egypt with
the impending fall of the Turkish Empire;
the creation of a new route to India by the
making of the Suez Canal the financial col
lapse of Egypt originating the present An
plo-French financial control the conflicting
interests of England and France in North
ern Africa. AS regards the first Of these
problems of practical politics, the downfall
of the Turkish power in Europe can only be
question of a few years. Now the question
is, when "the sick man. at last dies, and his
possessions are scrambled for by a number Of
hungry and not over scrupulous heirs, 10
whose share is Egypt to fall? Neither Ger
many nor Austria, nor even Russia, if once
in possession of Constantinopc, have amy
special interests in Egypt but with England
and France, to say nothing of Italy, the case
is different the question of the virtual pos
session of Egypt being to England, vital
one. The vast Importance to England OF
the question who is to have dominion over
Egypt, arises from the existence of the Suez
Canal, which has made the latter country
practically the key to India. With that key
in any other hands it would be in perpetual!
danger Lord Palmerston was not blind to
the political consequences ofthe scheme when
it was first mooted and opposedits execution
In spite of English opposition the great
work was finally accomplished, and the ca
nal opened. So long as England could ma
nuuvre to keep Egypt under the nominal
suzerainty of the Porte, her interests were Sc
cure, as the Sultan hash bee for years Il Nero
puppel in the hands Of the British ministry
but the Ottoman empire being now in it:
last phase, there is nothing left for England
STE nst a tor
the financial collapse took place, out OF
which the Anglo-French financial control
and the present crisis have both originated
But the financial difficulty is not the only
one likely, sooner OF later, to bring England
and France into collision in reference &c
Egypt. BY her recent invasion of Tunis
France has clearly revealed her intention OF
becoming supreme in North Africa When
the conquest of Tunis is accomplished. that
OF Iripoli will doubtless follow. and then. il
not before must come the question OF
Egypt. Now, as has already been observed
neither Germany, Austria, nor Russia have
any paramount interests in Egypt, but when
on the collapse Of the Turkish power, the
time for the distribution of the territories
still ruled by the Sultan shall have fully
come, it will exactly suit the policy of these
powers to bring about rupture between
France and England, so that while they
arc lighting over Egypt, Russia may swoop
down upon Armenia and Constantinoplc.
while Austria occupies the Balkan pcnnsu-
la, and Germany finds compensation by the
absorption of Holland and Denmark, Bel
GUM being handed over to France as an
equivalent for the lost provinces of Alsace
and Lorraine. Politically viewed it will
thus be seen that the present aspect of the
Egyptian Question" is sufficiently dark and
threatening