Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-15

UCyPT-s NEW GOVERNMENT.

Some of the details Of the scheme ap-
proved by Lord Dufferih for the furtufe
government Of Egypt are now published
They are shrewdiy calculated 10 disarm
ON the part Of the Continent
al powers, and they aim TO concliiate
public opinion in Great Britain by pur-
portinp to bestow a measure of self-gov-
eminent on the Egyptian people. Their
nractical outcome will be to leave the
Suez Canal at the mercy in time OF war
of the strongest naval power, that - 10
ray, of England, and to make the ms
dive az absolutely master of his SUBJECTS
as his father ever was. By what mater
;al force. however, this autocratie au-
tbority is to be sustained we are no'
vet informed. II Prince Tevfik, az
seems inevitable, must rely for support
on the continued presence OF an English
army, or o.. gendarmerie Differed by
Englishmen, he will virtually pass into
a state of tutelaee like Sat imposed on
the India Rajahs, and his desposie pow
ers will be exercised in the interest oil
his protector.
II is said that the provisions OF Lord
Dufferin's project relating TO the suez
Canal have allayed the misgivin8s en-
tertained at Constantinopie respecting
the intentions of Great Britain. IL so,
the Porte il easily satisfied. There are
no guarantees against the permanent
occupation Of the waterway by an Eng
lish fleet in the advent Of European
war. 1t is proposed, indeed, that lin
itation shall be placed-apparently by
conference of the great powers-on the
time during which vessels of a beili9er
ent State are to be allowed to remain III
the canal, and that no troops or mum
tions of war shall be disembafked, or
hostilities permitted in the canal, or
anywhere in the territorial waters of
Egypt, even in the event of Turkey be
ing one OF the belligerents. These st'p.
ulations sound equitable enough, but
there is absolutely no precaution taken
to enforce them. On the contrary,
Egypt, which is naturally most interest
ed in tho maintenance of its neutrality,
is prohibited by specific clause from
taking the most effective stop to that
end, viz, by fortifying the canal. What
a mockery would covana 1t OF neutral
ity appear to Belgium or Switzerland. If
by the Same instrument the pretended
subject Of protection were forbidden to
protect itself by strengthening it's from
tiers! Not only, moreover, are there nc
means of enforcing the injunction
against the Decentralization of troops
but convenient method of evading il
il designated in Lord Duirerin's pre-.
gram. The restrictions, IL seems, viii
not apply to measures requisite for the
defence of Egypt against internal disor
der. Now, in war 10 which Turkey is
a party there will almost certainly be
commotion In the Nile land, and in any
circumstances il would be easy to simu
late necessity of intervention on be-
half of order and security. Who is to
decide whether measures for the de-
fence of Egypt are required? The
British note is silent on this point, the
manifest intention being that England
shall land troops in the Nile country
whenever il suits her turn.
Let us look now to the equally spo.
oious and delusive regulations suggest
cd for the internal administration of
Egypt. According TO the scheme trans
mitted by Lord bulletin to the British
Foreign Office, all executive power il
lodged in the khedive and coancil of
twelve responsible" Ministers. To
whom are these Ministers ACCOUNTABLE
Really to the Khedive alone, for he can
appoint and dismiss them Mt his pleas
ure; ostensibly to So called Legislative
council OF fourteen members, one half
of whom are nominated BY ne khedipe
while the other half are chosen by sys-
tenn Of double election. Should, then
the ruler and his Ministry fail to plac,
any of their candidates in tho seven
elective seats, they would only need "a
briho one Of the elected members 10 So
cure majority Of the legislative cham
Der. Under these conditions Cabinet
would be M certain of securing the
adoption OF their measures rs men can
DO Of anything in this world. By an al
most superfluous preoaution, however.
against fractions conduct on the part of
elective members, the initiative of lecis-
iation is to rest wholly with the Minis
ters. In other words these curious leg
islators are not to open their mouths
until aquestion is put To them, and this,
OF course, will not be done, unless the
propounders feel sure of an affirmative
answer. Should, however, by any blum
der or accident, the Ministers fail TO so,
majority in tho council. the
Khedive will apparently have the power
to make their bill law by his personal
hat. As for the elective assembly of
forty'four members, plansibly described
by Lord Duiferin IA designed 10 give
voice to tho classes hitherto inarticulate,
1t Is gross imposition ON the political
ignorance of the Egyptian people. This
assembly ia not TO have the slightes,
share in tho making of laws. Il is A
merely consultative body, and We
infer that the Ministers are empowered
to neglect even the hollow form of con.
sulting it, from the fac. that this Esyp
tian House of Commons il TO be conyen.
cd Occasionally" to discuss special
subjects.
The actual working of these singular
parliamentary institutions will afford
rich material for an opera houffe. But
the scheme is serious enough from the
point Of British interests. Evidently
the Jineo element in the Liberal party,
which looks upon an acquisitive and
spirited foreign policy with almost Al
much favor as did Lord Beaeonsfe,d
has got the upper hand in the Gladstone