The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-26
GREAT BRITAIN IN EGYPT.

politics as we'll as the foreign diplomacy
of Great Britain. 1t we'll illustrates the
wide authority and aggressive policy of
the British government that change of
Cabinet by the Khedive of Egypt should
have elected growl from the British
lion SO savage and ominOus as to induce
the Khedive to dismiss the offensive
Cabinet and form one under British
dictation. And now that it has been
decided to increase the force of British
troops in Egypt we are told that drafts
for this purpose are to be made on the
British garrisons in Malta, Cyprus and
India. 1t is indeed a great power that
can thus enforce its demands IN one
quarter of the globe by drawing OF its
troops in so many others.
Great Britain is in Egypt, as she is in
many other places, only as an intruder.
Her traditional policy is aggressive. and
she is ever on the alert for an oppor-
tunity to obtain foothold and lOdg-
ment in some new quarter. Her occu-
patton of Egypt dates from 1882. Egypt
dive, though nominally an Independent
sovereign, recognizes his allegiance to
the Sultan. He only recognizes the au
thority of the British government from
compulsion. In the recent incident he
said he only yielded to force. In 1882,
under a pretense of protecting West
ern interests. the British govern
ment sent an army to occupy
Egypt. The Egyptian army, under
Arab Pasha. resisted the Occupa-
ton. but was subdued and disbanded.
British officers were then intrusted
with the task of organizing a new army,
and the British EN- AMBASSADOR at CONSTANT
nople was sent to Egypt to work out a
scheme for the reform and reorganiza-
tion of the civil government. Of course
there was great need of reform, but 1t
was not particularly the duty of the
British government to undertake the
work, nor have the results been such as
to be proud of. From 1882 to the pres
ent time Great Britain has been trying
to govern Egypt according to her own
ideas, and, of course, in her own inter
est, with the result that the people are
much more heavily taxed than ever be-
fore and little if any better governed.
The finances of the country are in q ter
rible condition and constantly growing
worse. The British occupation of Egypt
and the military operations growing out
of it have been very expensive. and it
has been the policy of Britain to make
Egypt pay for it. The attempt to
squeeze out of an impoverished people
the revenue for this and other purposes
has led to most distressing results, but
England has got so much invested in
Egypt. directly and indirectly, that
she cannot afford to surrender her foot
hold there and will not without severe
struggle. Her Egyptian policy is a very
costly one. but it is not likely to be
abandoned. That is not England's way.
The enemies of home rule in Ireland
are trying to turn the recent incident to
advantage in domestic politics. In a
speech delivered in Birmingham, last
Tuesday evening, the Hon. Joseph Cham
berlain attributed the Khedive's bold
ness in defying British authority to the
impression created by the speeches of
the Radicals, when they were in OppOsi-
ton. against the occupation of Egypt
1t was, he said, rather curious that the
recent government. by loosening Eng
lands hold on Egypt, should be proving
to the world the necessity of firmly as
sorting her authority over Ireland.
This and other phases of the affair are
likely to occupy good deal of attention
in the approaching session of Parlia-
ment. Meanwhile the Khedive is re-
ceiving congratulations from the Sultan
and the chiefs of the different provinces
on the bold stand he has taken against
British domination, and the natives are
said to be more excited than they have
been for many years. 1t is by no means
impossible that the increase of the Brit
ish force in Egypt, which has been de-
cided on, may precipitate an outbreak.
Lord CrOmer, the British representative
in Egypt, was interviewed few days
ago and said: "There is no cause to ap-
prehend q disturbance. but you are at
liberty to say that if a disturbance
| should occur guarantee it would be of
short duration" That sounds very
British. That government generally
makes short work of disturbances among
people whom it undertakes to reform.