New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-21
ENGLANUS REPLY TO FRANCE.

The replies made by the English press to
French demands for fulflment of the pledges
respecting Egypt are not straightforward.
Every leading journal disclaims any intention
Oh the part of the Government either to annex
the Nile countries OF TO garrison them perma-
nently. But with one voice the London press
asserts that evacuation must be deferred until
England's work is done and order is completely
restored. WHAT is the work? What kind OF
order il meantf When A lmiral Seymour gave
the signal for bombarding Alexandria and
when General Wolseley raided AIab,s camp at
Tel-e-Kcblr the work In hand was the sup
es,ion of military insurrection. That work
was done long ago. Order was restored through
out Egypt soon after the occupation of Cairo.
Is it administrative reform that requires the
presence of the English regimentsf Is 1t In
finance that order is to be restored with the aid
of a costly military establishment maintained
at the expo lse of the Egyptian treasury Sure
ly either object can be secured without MIL
itary occupation.
What would the English have said If the
Russians after agreeing to evacuate Bulgaria
had kert their troops on the ground? Would
they not have ridiculed the pretext that Orde
must be Restored and the work undertaken by
the Northern Power completed Would they
not have charged Russia with violating solemn
pledges The Russian clock ia Bulgaria Kept
good time. The English clock In Egypt Is
either very slow, or else it has run down alto
gether. II the Russians had garrisoned Bull
garia year after year, loudly pro esting all the
time that they had no intention of keeping the
troops there permanently, their English critics
would have scoffed at their hypocrisy. They
would have said " If you do not intend to
annex Bulgaria, recall your troops" Why
may not France with as much reason repuilate
English policy in Egypt as selfish, hypocrtical
and dishonest?
This is the view which the French Premier
aud the Paris press have been taking recently,
and tho answer made from London is not con-
vincing one We do not want to annex Egypt
but we must insist upon controlling 1t" ex-
claims one journal after another. ave shall
be drawing dividends before long on the khe-
di YES shares, and we cannot be hurried" cry
the man who inspired Lord Beaconsfeld with
the idea of buying two-tiths OF the canal. " III
NJ. de Frcycinetn contends The Pail Mall
Gazette, 9means TO tell US that the hour has
come for terminating our legitimate ascendancy
in the Nile Valley-an ascendancy based on
the sacrifice, OF four years and recognized
priority of our interests in the Suez route-we
must respectfully inform him that his clock
has gone wrong" So the answers run, one as
eyasve and equvOcal as another. Let the
hands of the English dial-plate be turned back
TO the time when Gladstone was defending the
expedition to Egypt and Lord Granville was
assuring every European court of the unsclfish
and benevolent intentions of his Government;
and the French clock vii be found to be keep
ing the better time. What would the English
themselves have said il the Russians had perma
nenty garrisoned Bulgaria and defended their
breach of ialth on the score OF past sacrifices
and the recognized priority" of their interests
in the direct overland route TO Constantinople
II they them selves would have sneered at such