Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22
The British in Egypt.

The Young hneQlVo VI hSyps NA'
played commendable discretion in heed
ing the ultimatum OF England regarding
the personnel of his Ministry. What
ever hardships may be entailed upon
Egypt by British occupation OF that coun.
try. they are more than counterbaianced
by the benefits such occupation has be-
slowed. ABBAs owes to British arms
the tranquility of his possessions, and to
Turkeys fear of Great Britain their IN
tegritv. It was a British force that put
down the ARABI rebellion, when French
nerve utterly failed. On several occa-
sions since, British troops have
been called upon to protect the
present Egyptian border, and to Great
Britain more than to any other power Is
due the fact that when ABBAs succeeded
to the Khediyal power the Sultan did
not lop the Sinai Peninsula from his do
mains. 1t is true that while this curtail-
ing process Was impending some OF the
other powers clustered, but it was well
understood that the British were the
only nation prepared to enforce the de-
mand for Egyptian territorial autonomy
Mt the muzzle of their guns.
Again, it is the part of discretion not
to kick against the pricks British &C.
cupation of Egypt is destined to con-
time for an indefinite period. 1t Is es-
sential to the safety of England's COM
munication with her Oriental empire
and South and Southeast African posses
sions and the carrying out OF her policy
touching the lake region Of the Dark
Continent. Great Britain must not only
hold the Suez Canal. but British pres
tige must continue in tho ascendancy
and British influence must predominant
in all the territory commanding 1t or Its
approaches. BY that token it is safe to
predict that England will triumph in the
game she is now playing with France
for supremacy in Morocco. While
France is mannuvring England will
grasp if need be.
ABBAs. therefore, does well in trying
to make the best of the bargain as it
stands. The situation is one, as far as
he is concerned, that French and Rus
sian intrigue cannot cure and in which
he has ali to gain by enduring with the
best Of temper British dictation may
he calling to him, but he has the assu-
rance that he can count upon British
soldiers against all enemies, not except
ing the Porte. Besides, if, as suspect
ed, he aspires to play the rote of Me-
HENEr ALL in respect Of the Soudan, ii
is England alone he must depend upon
for support. The friendship OF France
and Russia would prove OF very little ser
vice to him should he undertake the re-
conquest of that territory.
But the Khediye is not the only
prominent actor in the crisis who has
displayed discretion. Mr.. GLADSTONE,
it is safe TO assume, has disappointed his
enemies by the manner in which he met
the issue. He had always been weak on
questions of foreign policy, and the
British public have been especially sus-
picious OF h&~ in connection with
Egyptian affairs. To his "slaughter
and scuttle tactics and his vacillation
touching the WoLsELY expedition is
chargeable serious loss of British pres
tige in the Red Sea littoral and
on the upper Nile. In this instance,
however, he seems to have emphasized
his shrewdness in placing Lord Rose
Berry in charge of the Foreign Office
by allowing RosEBERY TO deal with the
situation in a summary manner. The
effect will be not only to inspire the
British masses with q confidence in the
Grand Old Man they have not enter
tanned for a long time, but to dissipate
very promptly French hope of accom-
plishing anything 10y meddling at Cairo.