New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-21
cannot I've said as yet to have done much to
,,oi,a .os;ar
zSCENDANCY IN EGYPT.

The success of the British arms in Egypt is a
fact which cannot be frIttered away even by
slipshod and faint-hearted diplomacy. Even
if no material change be made in the domestic
administration of the country. and the author
ity of the Khedive and his Ministers be com-
pletely restored, English influence will be dom
inant The ascendancy OF the Government
which interviewed so powerfully IN Egyptian
affairs will be acknowledged, even if no formal
advantages are acquired, such as the slzeralnty
purchased from the Sultan, the wardeDs'lip OF
the Suez Canal sanctioned by internath nal
action, or special privileges acquired by treaty
of lanang troops, garrisoning posts and sup
cruising certain branches of the administration
Orientas do not understand the subtletles OF
Western diplomacy and European law, Dut
they can feel the weight OF military arna-
ment. The invasion Of their ports, the con-
quest of their territory and the dispersion Oh
their army are facts which they fully compre-
hend The army may withdraw Without
garrisoning Port Said, SIez and Cairo, ana
the fleet may weigh anchor in the haroor OF
Alexandria, but the prestige OF the Govern
ment which dispatched army and heet VIII
remain The "status quo" of which dipio-
matists are always chatterng, may be restored,
and artificial schemes of annexation and
naturalization may be scrupulously avoided.
Yet the inevitable result Of intervention an
the campaign will be that British influence on
the Nile will be immeasuraby increased.
Az England increases, France will decrease.
The two Nations have been rivals in Egypt
since the battle of the Pyramids. On the
French side the NapoleOnic victories, the ala
given to Mehemet ALI the construction OF the
Suez Canal, the employment OF an army OF
foreign officials, heavy investments OF capitai,
the position of the home Government as
Mediterranean Power, and the conquest OF two
Moslem States, Algeria and Tunlsla, have
given direction to thatriyalry On the part OF the
English, the security of India and commercial
interests of the first magnitude have rendered
the traditional policy, for which Nelson ana
Abercromby fought, of vital Importance 10
the Empire But the rivals are now on
very different footing in Egypt. 80 long us
they were partners in the financial Control, ana
united in diplomatic protests, Identical notes
and vague threats Of joint intervention, one
was rs influential as the other But now that
one has brought its naval and military
resources to bear with tremendous effect, while
the other has done nothing whatever, evadlng
its responsibilities and wasting It's oppor-
tupities. the situation has changed. French
investors may retain their proprietary shares
in the Canal and French tinanciers and engi-
neers may form a large body of the Egyptian
civil service. but the influence of the British
Nation has become paramount. The rivals
may treat each other with affected courtesy
and frien1iiness, but one has Outstripped the
.an Nrnr foil, on
Whatever may be the future relations OF
Great Britain and Egypt it may be affirmed
with confidence that the financial partnership
will not be revived. The Control was the
equation of joint interests, and the English
people will prefer a symbol OF their own
preponderating influence. Mr.. Gladstone mas
never concealed his dislike for system OF
politcal-fnancal intervention which tie
prived each Government of independence
of action and created constant dissatisfaction
i'm Egypt 1t was an artificial arrangement
deyised by his predecessor and he has heen
constantly hampored by it in the negotiations
of the present year. The dscontInuance OF
the Control will be n sign that the two coun-
tries have ceased to he partners on equal
shares, and France will not be in position TO
complain of the severance OF these relations.
Moreov yer, there are practical reasons Tor the
modification of the system The CoDtrol may
have introduced, as Mr.. Bruce remarked In
the Commons, regularity in the revenue
calculations which has not existed since the
DAYS of Joseph, but it has worked badly in
some respects. Too many foreigners were
employed in subordinate positions, the natives
were not allowed to work out the details Tor
themselves, and Europeans were exempted
most uniustly from taxation. There are many
grievances which can only be redressed by a
revision of this system. The interests OF
England and Egypt alike will be promoted
by the dissolution of an awkward and I'M
natural partnership.
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