Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-10
salisbury's Game ut Cairo.

In the game Lord SALISBURY has, Ia con.
junction with Austria and Italy. Just
played Mt Cairo he made one move for Al
nAs Pasha and two for England and scored
points not only against Turkey. but against
Russia and France "a well. The Sinai
peninsula question became q matter OF
friction between Egypt and the Porte
some months ago. when the Turkish COM
mander. while on bis way to suppress the
revolt in Yemen, ordered the Khedlve's
troops 10 vacate certain forts on the Akaba
gulf which had been garrisoned by the
Egyptians ever since the time of MEHEMET
ALI This command the Egyptian Gov
ernor of the territory, in compliance
with orders from Cairo. refused in un-
qualified terms to obey. and rs conse-
quence the relations between the Khedive
and the Sultnn's representative at Cairo
became decidedly strained.
In raising the question Of ABBAs Pasha's
territorial rights in this peninsula and on
the Red Sea littoral. in connection with
his acceptance Of the frman of lnyesti-
ture, England had two objects in view. In
the first place Egyptian possession is i'm
portant to England from strategic con-
siderations affecting the guarding of her
route to her Oriental empire. In the
second place it is to British interest now
TO bring about just what England and the
other powers prevented in 1910. But for
the Intervention of the powers at thai
time MEHEMET AIRS successes in his Syrian
campaign would have emRncipated Egypt
from the condition Of O Turkish province.
As II was, that cruel but able adventurer
forced from the Porte concessions which
secured to Egypt q dignity of rulership
and immunities from Turkish oppression
she had not enjoyed since SELis broke the
power Of the Mamelukes in 1916 and Too
NAN By, the last of the soyereigns OF the
country. was treacherously and igno-
| minously slain.
! In the days Of MEHEMET ALI. however,
there was no Suez canal, and the map OF
| Europe had not been so changed az to force
other great powers to make the same vital
cause with Englandagainst Russia that now
| exists. Besides, there is very broad dit
terence between the sovereignty contem-
plated by MRHEMET ALI sud the sovereignty
| of an Egyptian ruler under present condi-
tions. Absolute divorce of Egypt from
Turkey would. of necessity, mean closer
union between Egypt and England, and
render all the more certain the continued
| domination Of English influence at Cairo.
1t would, of necessity, increase the de-
pendence of Egypt upon England, both in
the matter Of the management OF tho for
mer's internal affairs and thereconquest Of
lost territory.
| This last development of tho situation,
while it cannot be expected to result I'M
mediately in the divorce referred to, is en-
tirely in harmony with English policy di-
rected to the ultimate emancipation OF
Egypt from the suzerainty of the Porte.
Every time England has fostered differ
ences between the Khedive and the Sultan
she has had that object before her and has
advanced "A step towards the goal. Through
her influence IsNAIL made demands onthe
Porte which, though they were not all
conceded, were recognized TO the extent
that his powers and dignities and indie
pendence were enlarged. and il cannot be
supposed that, supported as Lord SAILS
BURY is by Italy and Austria, he will gain
less for ABBAs Pasha and for England than
was gained for IsMAIL. The further moves
in the game and their disclosures will,
therefore, constitute o most interesting
study