New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-22
KHEDIVE ABBAS II.
4 VAIN AND BUMPTlOUS YOUNG MAN-flOW
HE TRIED TO TEACH LORD CROMER
A LESSON

Egypt and the attempted revolt on the part OF
the khedive against the tutcagc OF his Eng
lish protectors. it Is necessary 10 hear In mind
that Abbas II is but nineteen years old. and that
although AS prec0cious most Oriental youths
IF his age. he is necessarily devoid of that
prudence and political sagacity which tie
outcome Of experience Moreover. it should be
taken into consideration that he is surrounded by
the very worst influences. both European and
Aslatic. which fater his vanty. pandcr to his
vices, and develop in his mind that innate taste
for intrigue and Gouble-dealing which constitutes
marked and predominant d feature OF ule
Eastern character. Ii is no eNasgerafion to assert
that the young khcdive's surroundings. of .
masculine as well as of n feminine character. are
like those of his father. the late Khcdivc Tcwfk,
VIGOROUSLY hostile 10 the English. and it is for
the purpose Of combating these influences that
the British Government maintains at Cairo an
official of the calibrc and experience OF LORD
Cromer To the latter. WHO has known Abbas
since lie a baby two years old. the mani
lcstations OF independence on the part OF the
young Khedive must be exceedingly entertaining,
especially when he recalls To mind the merry
afternoons which the lad and his younger brother
used as children, to spend with the little Earrings
romping in the nursery of the British Resdency.
Already in May only few months after his
accession to the throne. Abbas. his head doubt
less turncH by his sudden elevation. and cncour-
aged thereto l)y his associates. attempted 10 give
lesson in breeding and etiquette TO the Eng
Ilsh Envoy. The latter while driving home from
lIcliopolis afternoon called in the khedives
suburban residence of Koubch. he had often
done previously for the sake of friendly chat
and cup of coffee. Instead of being received
at once, as is the nyarablc custom with all the
Foreign ENJOYS accredited to the Khedivia court,
he was kept waiting Tor half an hour. and then
a native ade-dc-camr. or chamberlain, informed
him that His Iiighnoss could grant no audi
encrs except at his city palace of Ahdeen. and
unless requested beforehand The chamberlain
added that he had been instructed by the
Khedive to say that he Ahbas, had learned while
in Europe that foreign ENJOYS when received in
audience by the sOvcre sns to whose courts they
were accredited invariably wore uniform, or. at
any rate, evening dress, and that Lord Cromers
cOstume-hs customary gray frOcS coat and white
hat-was scarcely in accordance with the require
ments of etiquette. For once in his life Lord
Cromer appears to have been taken aback,
for, after looking for moment at the native
official in undisguiscd astonishmcnt he turned
his back upon Linn and drove back to Cairo
without uticring a word. The next morning q
notice appeared in the official "Monteur," or
Government gazette. stating that the Khcdive
would grant audience unless il applied
for twenty-four hours in advance. and that full
uniform would bo eXacted on the part of those
admitted To the presence of His IIighncss
\ few hours later Lrrd Cromer arrived at the
Palace Of Ahdeen-in his ordinary abbreviated
upstairs without deignirg 10 pay any attention to
tho native chamhcrllins and aidcs-de-camp, and
in manner more fathcrly than strictly diplomatic.
pointed out to tho khrdive the error Of his ways,
with the result that the announcement in the
M niteur" was cancelled in the following issue.
Matters seem to have gone on pretty well during
the remainder of the year, much in fact, that
a few days after Christmas Lord Cromcr, acting
IN behalf of Queen Victoria, solemrly invested
AbIas with the Grand Cross Of the Order Of the
Bath. Barely a week later, the Khedive, how.
ever, showed his appreciation OF the honor by com
hitting the most open act Of hostility toward his
English protectors that he has vet ventured upon.
namely, the appointment of Fakhri PaclIa. who is
IA notorious tor his enmty 10 the English as for
his gnobe private character, TO the post of Prime
Minister in the piece Of Mustapha Fchmi Pacha
who notwithstanding his former questionable
| record has for several years been cooperating
LOCALLY with the English for the welfare OF
Egypt In view of the fact tidt the khedive HAD
but II few days previously received from the
Queen of England the public token Of friendship
above described, his action in the matter was
particularly un.racious, illtimed and fiaSrantly
inimical to Great Britain, and was held by Lord
| Cromer TO reGurc a sharp lesson, which assumed
the form of an ultImatam giving young ADbas
the alternative Df removing Fakhri from Office
within twenty-four hours or Of being deposed
in rho .,.n. WAY &c his grandfather. Khedive
| Ismau OF course there was 10 way out OF
il save I, Weld, and accordingly FaShri, a man
who has been compromised in all sorts OF dis
.rocerll scandals, and who, during my residence
plV IOrseWnlDDed
Pacla on the most crowded portion Of the Shot'
IN an drive has be,.n rclcgated into private lille.
In all this Abbas is more TO be pltled than tc
bc blamed. and the responsibility for his mistakes
must rest with his family and surrouhdinsS'
Even his mother, the strong-mindcd hheaivian'
exercises baneful influence upon MN, "nic"
GOES far TO counterfeit the effects OF the hcaithy
and sound education which lie received-iirst lro"
his English tutor, Mr.. Butler, and subsequently
at the Military Thcresianum Academy AT vienna
Indeed. from the peculiarly intimate knowiedee
which ! possess of the khedlvlal court-i nave
boon ON terms of close personal acquaintance with
the Khcdives Ismail and Tewtl and nave Known
| ,bbas since 1873, when he was n child OF four
| should say that it is his mother who Is prl-
ma,ly responsible for his impotic acts Of antagon'
| ism IA the Irgsh A domincering and ambi-
fms woman. she simply abominates the British
vho n the time of the Arab instruction IN
1852. imprisoned, exilcd aud even put TO death
80 many of her near relatives and friends For
both She and all her family were IN open sympathy
with Arab Pacha in his efforts To drive the Euro
peans in general. and the English III parucniars
out of Egypt in 1852, and only drew pack when,
NJ ,hc time of the bombardment of Alexandria,
il became apparent that the Arab movement was
irrevocably doomed to defeat
The Khcdviah is daughter of the widowed
Princess FL Ham, herself the daughter of the late
Sultan Abdul Medjld of Turkey. 1t is owing 70
her own act that Princess FL llami is widow.
Her husband, Prince FL IIami, son OF the late
khedive Abbas J. was incautlous enough aIter
snlnr five Nears OF marrlage 10 announce ms ln-