The sun., 1892-09-07
Egypt and the Gladstone Government.

Scarcely Is Mr.. GLADSTONE warm in Office
when we learn by cable that the Dorset
r egiment. the strongest OF the British
regiments which have been stationed in
Egypt. has been recalled. and will not be
replaced We are also informed that the
rest OF the English forces are to be gradu-
ally withdrawn from Cairo and other points
in the interior Of the Nile country. and to
be concentrated at Alexandria. This indi-
Gates that Mr.. GLADSTONE has by no means
abdicated all control over the foreign policy
OF his Government. but that there We're
concessions on both sides in the arrange
ments made between him and Lord ROSE
Berry. whereby the latter reconsdered his
previous refusal and accepted the post Of
Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 1t may turn
out, however, that the RoTHscHILDs. who
are the representatives Of the Egyptian
bondholders. and whose candidate for the
Foreign OfIlce Lord RosEBERY was believed
to be- have less to lose than is generally
supposed by the removal Of the British
garrison from the Khedves dominions.
When it was announced that not Lord
KIMBERLEY. who would have been the mere
mouthpiece OF Mr.. GLADSTONE. but Lord
RosEBERY was to be Foreign Sc ecretary in
the new Cabinet. the friends OF the Triple
Alliance breathed more freely. That the
Prime Minister himself would disapprove
OF Lord SALIsBURY's alleged agreement to
protect the Italian coasts with English
irOnclads against French aggression was
justly suspected: for Mr.. GLADSTONE has
always been unwilling to entaugle his coun-
| try in Continental quarrcls. and he would
| have seen that tho fulhlment Of the agree
| ment In question would be construed by
| France and Russia as an act OF war. More
| over his dislike OF Austria Is notorious. and
| he is no admirer either Of Prince BISMARCK
! or Of the young German Emperor. 1t was.
therefore. with good reason apprehended
that. should Mr.. GLADsToNEs personal
opinions shape England's foreign policy. he
| would. while determined to observe neu-
| trality. manage to cast upon the side OF
| France all the moral weight dcrivable from
| avowed good will and diplomatic influence.
| On the other hand. Lord ROsEBERY's con-
victions and sympathies are equally we'll
known to favor cordial understanding
with Germany In the first instance. and in
ferentially with the other powers included
In the Triple Alliance. The ultimate accept
ance. therefore. OF tho Foreign Office by
Lord RosEDERY can only signify that within
| certain limits he is to have a free hand, and
| that Lord SALIsBuRY's friendly attitude
toward the three central powers will be
maintained. with this exception. that under
no circumstances while Mr.. GLADSTONE is
| in Office will the British fleet be suffered to
shield Italy from the consequences of a
| needless war with France. We say need
| less. because Italy would have nothing to
fear from Franco il she had insisted on re-
| naming neutral instead OF allying herself
with the enemy OF the French republic.
But while Mr.. GLADsToNE's position with
regard to the Triple Alliance and to the
protection OF Italy from the results OF her
own folly. has to be deduccd from his char
acter and former record in Office another
feature OF his foreign policy is defined by
recent and explicit statements. and cannot
be disavowed without an utter sacrifice Of
dignity. The new Prime Minister has pub
lcly declared that England could not evade
compliance with an international agree
ment to withdraw her troops the moment
that order should be restored In Egypt; and
he has further acknowledged that the res
toration OF order can no longer DO disputed.
Mr. LABoUCHEREs threat to remind him
of these declarations can only have the
effect Of Fastening the fulnlment OF an un-