The morning call., 1892-08-17
THE EVACUATION OF EGYPT.

Unless rumor is at fault, the Gladstone
administration is going to iraugurate its
accession to power by ronsing contro-
yersy that will set ali England In blaze.
Ii will be remembered that the chief cause
of Gladstone's downfall eight years ago
was the barren expedition intaS'Egypt for
the overthrow of Arab and the rescue Of
Gordon. Arabi was certainly overthrOwD,
but Gordon was not rescued, and many
persons accused Mr.. Gladstone of being
accessory to his death through his vacilat-
ing policy. Lord Wolseley's fruitless
march up the n lie filed the English heart
with rage. 1t was indeed an exhibition of
helplessness. 1t seems shat Gladstone,
who scorned to defend himself, realized that
the error of the operation lay deeper than
his critics discerned-that il resulted from
the illogical occupation of Egypt by the
English.
lie is now said to have resolved to ter
inmate that occupation by evacuating the
country. Such course would be in line
with his evacuation of the Ionian Islands
some 20 odd years ago and with his bostii-
iiy to DisraelPs occupation Of Cyprus. The
protectorate of Egypt which the English es-
tablished many years ago has always been
a source of expense and embarrassment TO
England and A cause of friction with other
European powers. 1t was at first joint
protectorate with France, but the latter
withdrew from it in 1888 leaving England
alone. II amounts now to an absolute mill
taTy occupation of the country. The chief
ruler is Sir Evelyn Barring, whose official
title is adviser 10 the khediye. The Board
OF Works is presided over by an English
man. The Department Of War has an Egg
lishman at its head. The Egyptian army,
1900 strong. is commanded by GO English
officers, and besides this there is British
army OF occupation numbering 5000 men.
Every bureau in the Department Of Finance
is in tie hands OF Eugishmen. The coun-
try is as completely under English control
as the province of Bengal.
This condition of things really gives to
Egypt n more stable and orderly govern
ment than it would probably enjoy if the
khedive were independent But the Egyp-
tians, like other people, fancy that they are
able TO run their own country without the
control o foreigners and the effect of Brit
ish supremacy is to make the English in
tensely hated by every man, woman and
child in Egypt. 1t is, moreover unjustifiable
on moral and political grounds. The Eng
lish have never conquered Egypt in fair
war. They have no right 10 treat il as IL 10
was conquered country. The extension of
British authority over the land Of the
Pharaohs does 30 good to Great Britain. 1t
is source Of expense and weakness. A
vague theory has been sfoat in high poIiti-
cal circles that Egypt, being the highway to
India, ought to be in British hands. But
since the extension of the Asiatic railway
system Asiaue Turkey is much more like
the highway to India than Egypt, and no
D. i
Palestine from the Sultan. Of course, in
the event OF war, If a power like France,
Germany or Russia got hold OF the Suez
canal, 1t would stop intercourse between
Great Britain and her chief colony; but the
occupation Of Egypt by Great Britain
would not prevent their doing so if they
were strong enough. as the independence of
Egypt would not facilitate their enterprise.
The canal would be prize 10 the strongest.
Meanwhile the English occupation of
Egypt creates a new vulnerable point where
England might be attacked. In the event
OF war an enemy might choose TO fight
England in Egypt, and she would be offered
the alternative Of being drained Of troops TO
do battle a couple of thousand miles from
their laSe. or Of retire ating under FIRE aud
c0Hfessing her defeat. When Napo.e con had
to evacuate Egypt at the beginning of the
century there was nothing TO prevent the
occupation of the county by England; but
the English were too wise. II was not till
Disraeli inaugurated iingoism as the basis
OF British policy that Great Britain seized
the Egyptian white elephant. Mr. Glad
stone now proposes TO repair tha. mistake.
aud 10 let the Egyptians manage their own
country. As there are about 1000. 900 of
them in the most fertile country in the
world they ought to be able to- do so.
Rum0r has it that Earl Rose berry, who is
Gladstone's Foreign Secretary, Is not fully
agreed with his chief on this question, and
that he will ask that it be left open.
The story is probably unfOunded The
evacuation OF Egypt by the English cannot
be a minor matter. II must assume pre-
ponderating proportions, and on the success
or failure of Mr.. Gladstnnes policy in regard
to it. tie life of his Ministry will probably
depend. Il is unlikely that in matter of
such magnitude he would tolerate divided
counsels in MS political family.
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