Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09

Turkey and paws an annual tribute of
81, OoO,0o0 to the sultan. and the khedfve Is
SUPPOSED to be subject to his VIII, Lord
Cromer. the British consul general and
diplomatic agent, Is the de facto ruler OF
the country, and the khedive Is allowed 10
do nothing without his consent and ap-
prevail. He has formal title. In the
official lists he ranks with the consul gen.
erals of the United States and other coun-
tries, and ceremonial occasions he ap-
pears with his colleagues of the consular
CORPS and makes his bow to the man on
the throne. And the man on the throne
returns the salute of his master, and Is
conscious that the quiet-looking gentleman
with transformations manners and a pleas
ant smile controls his thoughts as well as
his acts. for 1t is waste of time for his
highness to reflect or plan or even imagine
things that Lord Cromer does not approve.
While the administrative force and the
executive departments of the government
are nominally in control of natives. every
official of Importance, from the minister OF
foreign relations to the chief of police in
every city. has an Englishman at his side
who acts as his adviser and receives his
orders from and makes his reports to the
British consul. If the official does not con-
form to the views of his adviser he loses
his job. If he proves himself capable, use
full, honest and Is willing to carry out the
British policy he is promoted, hOnored and
admired Hence Lord Cromer has his finger
upon every bureau and upon every clerk of
every department of the Egyptian govern
ment and every wire runs into his house.
This supervision begins with the khedive
himself. who has his adviser in the per-
son of an aid-de-camp and appreciates the
Importance of following the counsel he
gives. If Abbas Hilmi III should decline to
obey his adviser if he should attempt
to guide unaided the government of which
he is the titular head, he would be quietly
reminded that there are heirs to the throne.
He is therefore compelled to accept the
situation. which continues as 1t existed
when he came to the throne In 1892, and is
likely to continue indefinitely.
Englishmen are careful to explain that
| they have not annexed Egypt; that there Is
no protectorate. and that no official tie ex-
lists between the two governments. The
word Occupation" is used to describe a
condition that has existed since 1882, and
In theory Great Britain has never attempted
to legaliZe her position in Egypt. Her army
| Is there theoretically, at the request of the
khedfve. to preserve the peace and protect
his throne. but for twenty years Egypt has
been actually governed from London, and
| more absolutely than any British colony.
Lord Cromer has greater authority than
any of the yiceroys or governors of Austria
liza, Canada, India any other colony.
The other powers of Europe accept the
situation for financial reasons, because the
interests of their subjects in the Egyptian
debt can best be served in that way. They
are allowed representation in the treasury
department and in the courts and England
assumes the rest Of the responsibility.
The American Colony.
The American colony, as am informed,
consists of the consul general and his staff,
three Judges of the international courts, a
number of missionaries and one barkeeper,
who Is said to be the most popular man in
Cairo.
There used to be large number of
Americans here. Upon the recommendation
of Gen. Sherman sixty graduates of West
Point. more than half of them ex-confed-
crates. came over here in 1870 and 1871 by
invitation from Ismafl. the spendthrift khe-
dive. and organized the Egyptian army
Gen. Charles p. Stone was the chief of stan,
and he Is remembered with great respect by
everybody. In fact. our American soldiers
left an excellent reputation, and the British
have prof1ted largely by their experience
and example. The British have reaped the
crop they sowed.