The age-herald., 1898-11-11
GREAT BRITAIN
IN EGYPT

skill made French Influence predominant III Egypt, while england stood aloof. When, in 1875, the British government, under Mir Disraeli, bought Suez canal shares to the amount of $2O,OOO,OOO England from that moment became interested in business like management of Egyptian finances. Ismail Pasha, at that time khedive, was spendthrift, having increased the national debt of Egypt from 900 to 9S9,OOO,OOo during a period of thirteen years, although the annual revenues were ample for all nec- essary expenditures and the natives were cruelty taxed.
 France, under the premiership of Gam betta, took up a position which left Eng land no choice between joining in the dual control of Egypt or being left out in the cold. The two powers interfered in 1879, and established the system by which an Englisman and Frenchman were appoint ed to advise the khedive in financial mat ters and public works; in fact, they were there to protect the interests of the Eu- ropean bondholders and to exercise strict surveillance over the public expenditure, recommending an economical administra- ton, including a reduction of the army, which was one of the purposes of Arabi's rebellion The khedive had been deposed Dy tilc SultdIl, dllu DUH, lSnAh, hoo regning at the time of the rebellion, but proved himself so weak and incompetent at this crisis that England and France again interfered and bound themselves to main- tain the authority of the khedive against enemies within and without.
 Then followed the massacre of Alexandria in 1SS2 when 150 Europeans were murdered in broad daylight, while British and other foreign men-of-war were stationed in the for the purpose of protecting life and prop harbor to protect life and prop erty. The admiral had not been instructed to land troops, so that the naval display was useless. This reused public indigna- ton in England, and meetings were held denouncing the vacillating policy of the Gladstone government. Yet no one power seemed prepared to take the initiative. The sultan, whose business it was Cf any ones) to maintain the khedive's authority, was, as ever, unprepared for emergency. France and England were the powers most inter- ested in the maintenance of peace, and France was not in favor of action that would call for troops and an outlay of money. By great sacrifices the powers had dragged Egypt from the verge of bank ruptcy and had put her in the way of meet ing her obligations. Now all this work was being undone, and the anarchy prevailing meant the loss of millions of European capital, to say nothing of Christian lives which were in daily peril. England stepped into the breach Taking the whole respon- sibility, after the bombardment of Alex andria, she sent troops to Egypt, and Arabis army was quickly dispersed and order for the time being was quickly stored
 The Gladstone ministry declared that as soon as peace was firmly established the British troops would be withdrawn, and no one familiar with the personnel of that ministry could doubt the good faith of this declaration. But Gadstone's Egyptian policy was lacking in strength and determ- nation, and he never seemed fully to grasp the situation. The very prospect of the withdrawal of British troops made it all the more difficult, for the British, to effect reforms, as the natives, who were in ex- pectation of being left to Turkish rule again, were undecided and unwilling to commit themselves to either party.
 Upon investigation it was found that peace and stability could never be firmly established on the rotten foundation of the Egyptian administration it existed. In every department reforms were needed. The country had long been infested with foreign swindlers who preyed on the de- fenseless natives, were particularly exempt from taxation and could commit all manner of crime with only the remotest chance of punishment. In plain words, Egypt had been run in the interests of foreigners- Turks, Greeks, Circassians, French Ital- ians-and at the expense of the natives. It was now possible for England, having an army on the spot, to effect reforms, and the work was begun under English officials placed at the heads of the various departments.
 Among the changes made the dual con- trol was abolished in 1885, and an English financial adviser was appointed to assist the khedive. Thus the French were busted. Having refused to do their share of the work when tremendous interests were at stake they lost voice. in the control of Egyptian affairs and have ever since tried to thwart England in her plans for the bet torment of the government. From that time things have steadily improved in Egypt proper, in spite of the trouble in the Soudan arising from the mahdis rebellion, The Improvements effected in irrigation, by which the resources of the country have been developed and the crops largely in- creased to the benefit of the poorer classes, who are agricultursts; the proper adjust ment of taxation, so that foreigners now bear their share; the economical admins- tration of the finances so that no money is allowed to be wasted; the creation of new and efficient army, well treated and prop erly fed; the abolition of the kurbash and the corvee system of forced labor where- by the wretched natives were compelled to work on the ambankments at times when their own crops needed attention-all this and infinitely more has been accomplished. by the British officials in the khedive's service.
 Let no one ina zine for a moment that these reforms have been easily accomplish ed The obstacles have been many and great. the natives at first being violently opposed to innovation The troubles in the Soudan have cost much in life and treasure. But the work has been done by dint of in- finite patience, large tact and persuasive ability of high order; for the British policy has been. so far as possible. to train na- tive officials and to lead them in the paths of honesty and efficiency by influence and example. instead of having recourse to force. This has taken time. and meanwhile the Soudanese are sick of the miseries which mahdsm has brought upon them, and are even now blessing their delverers