The Portland daily press., 1896-04-25

lands suggestion was rejected.
Since this success of French diplomacy
every French Ministry has insisted on
England's evaouating Egypt. Freycinet
wrote, Sept 3, to Montebello, French
Ambassador at Constautinople: "You
may assure the Grand Vizier that we
have no intent ton to occupy Egypt.
When England quits, we shall be formal
ly opposed to the occupation of Egypt by
any power" Lord Salisbury was at first
oonoiliatory. He said to the French
Ambassador. Waddington, in 1886:
"Your people are gravely mistaken if
they believe that We wish to remain in
Egypt indefinitely. We are trying to
find only means of withdrawing honora-
bly,. We are decided to evacuate the
country" But France was not kept in
formed of Sir Henry Drummond VOLTS
negotiations at Constantinople. They
failed. He proposed that England should
occupy the country after eyacuating
1t whenever Egypt's security, in Eng
lands Judgment, needed England's in
PREVENTION. Turkey could not acoede to
ouou q SUA0Ho VI s6UulOluouu, anu plT
Henry Drummond Wolff quilted Con-
stantinople without having accomplished
his object.
Rustem Pasha, Turkish Ambassador
at London. tried several times, in 1890 to
1893. to reopen the controversy, but Lord
Salisbury closed it at each effort with the
simple statement that Sir Henry Drum
mond VOLTS proposition was the only
one that England could consider. Later,
the conversion of bonds lad conyersa-
tion Of the French Ambassado with
Lord Salisbury as to the question of
Egypt's evacuation, but an argument
about fellahs intervened. the Spuller
Ministry fell, the Ribot Ministry came
into power, and diplomacy about Egypt
was adjourned again. One of the reasons
that England involzes always to justify
its occupation of Egypt is the necessity
of not leaving the country at the mercy
of the natives whose rebellion the Khe-
dive might not have tie strength to sup
press and Of the Soudanese, whom the
Mahdists may excite easily to war OF
| fanatlcism. But England has not been
sue ,essful in battles against the Mahdists,
or, when it has been successful in battles,
| has not been able to utilize it's victories
The victories of Graham and Stewart
could not prevent the fall of Khartoum
and the death of Gordon.
Since 1885 England has made no at
tempts against the Mahdists, except in
1889 and 1891, when few bands were
beaten at Toski and i'll the environs of
Suakim. Enoamped quietly at Wady-
Halfa, English troops watch the Mahdists
whose greatness is declining. This en-
campment has much political usefulness.
It serves to recall the horrors Of Soudan
warfare to Cabinets that recall the Egyp-
tian evacuation question. 1t serves to
postpone discussion forever, and England
had no need Of an expedition to Dongola
in order to make this postponement ex-
ousable. The most plausible explanation
for that expedition, which leading
Liberals in the House of Commons and
the English people apparently condemn,
is that the Mahdists are not united, and
that thi1 is magnificent opportunity to
regain the prestige lost at Khartoum,
and then rejoin, at the height of the
Nile, the agents from Uganda who have
been so assiduously laboring in the an
oient provinces of Emin.