Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08
EGYPT, ASIA MINOR AND ARABIA

The British parliament was the scene of a
sensational speech on the night OF the 9Th
instant by Sir Edward Grey.
An Omctal the foreign secretary. 1t was
Warning. anticipated that the house OF
commons during the discus
sion OF the foreign estimates would take up
Russian and Congo affairs. The question be-
| fore all others was Egypt Imagine the
surprise and excitement at the following
serious declaration by the secretary:
AS things are now. say deliberately and
with full sense of responsibility that II
parliament does anything at this moment
to weaken or destroy the authority Of the
Egyptian government. you viii come face
to face with a very serious situation; for
should fanaticism get the better of consti-
tuted authority, there might arise the ne
cesstty for extreme measures"
John Dillon. nationalist. strongly denounc-
ed what he termed the brutal barbarism OF
dogg1ng and execution, In Egypt, accusing
Sir Edward Grey OF a desire to cloak the
affair. The secretary. replying. referred to
the great growth Of fanatical feeling In
Egypt and throughout North Africa re-
Gently, and said that 1t might necessitate
even further measures to protect Europeans
IN Egypt.
This state of disorder must have been
known to Lord Cromer, who In his recent
L =
ferring to Egypt as the Land of Paradox"
and where "a return to the exercise or
personal power OF an oriental type should
assume In tho first instance the attractive
garb Of q movement in the direction OF SELF
government" When 1t 10 recalled that the
British have occupied Egypt by force of
arms since the 18th OF July 1882. nearly
quarter of century. the spirit of the Egyp-
tian people. it Is Just to suspect. has not
been understood by the British government.
The British occupant has not endeared
himself to the fellah In the sense which the
public have been led to believe. Inc con-
dominium, composed Of an English and
French control. was perhaps an IDEAL gov
eminent for the native 1t adopted a fixed
military term Of service In place OF per-
petual service; It abolished excessive tax
alton; 1t abolished the system OF forced
labor: It abolished the courbatch or hip
popotamus whip The condominium did all
this In the interregnum between the &C.
thronement OF Ishmail. 1873, and the dis
artrous rule Of Arab, 1882. The British
constructed the Assouan dam, which was
to add untold areas Of sterile lands to cui-
tivable fields. Illusion The base OF the
dam is securing away and with 1t the vast
sums Of money invested In the Land Com
pany. Limited" which means ruin and beg
gary for many. There Is something mys-
from Menes to Mohamet. the invading
stranger has not been able to attach HIM
self or replace the ancient Egyptian. Be-
sides, the writer may repeat here an axiom
ever obtain In Egypt-t was Sir Charles
Dixie who uttered Is and with acknowleds-
ed authority, Egypt II country OF tran
sit. She Ii to certain point the common
as an international highway indispensable
to the commerce OF all nations.
-
The Anglo-Turk conflict over the well
at Tabah In the Sinai peninsula has
been heretofore recounted.
The Tabah The discussion first grew
Disnute. out OF exceptions taken by
Lord Cromar to the sui
tan's authority over Tabah mentioned in
the sultan.s frman Of investiture OF the
Khediye Abbas Hilmy, April 8, 1902. The
porte maintained that the disputed terri
tory was confided to Egypt only In order
that the latter should protect the EGYPTIAN
pilgrims who went by land formerly from
Suex by way of Tabah and Akaba to the
holy cities Of Islam, that such mandate
could not constitute right to Egypt ana
that the sublime porte could WITHDRAW !.
from Egypt whenever It seemed At and
convenient. Turkey. 1t Is evident. DID not
establish military post at Tabah Tor the
vain desire to possess the Improbable sandy
or slope westward for the projected Turkish
railroad to the Hedjaz. and protect likewise
the port OF Akaba. which Turkey would
make point OF embarkment Of her sol
incident, 1t is interesting to add, will re-
suit in attracting the curious traveller. for
whose wants camel corps has already
been organized to unite Tabah with Bir-el-
Thamed and Suex to be replaced in short
time BY q line Of automobiles to which the
hard sandy desert offers good roadbed.
In diplomatic circles 1t Is held that the
Tabah affair was inspired by the Emperor
Of Germany, and in that connection 1t Is
recalled that the Turks undertook to ad-
vance towards the oasis Of central Sahara
between Fezz and Lake Tchad. move
ment which precipitated French occupa-
ton of those regions attributed to France
by the Anglo-French accord of April g.
1904. About the same time Turkey entered
into conflict with Persia. an incident which
is closed letter to all the world. but 1t
ambassador at Constantinople Prince
Mira Khan. In his report to his intermedi-
aries. the representatives OF Russia and
England on March 8. 1905:
Of March, 1847 ratified definitely March 9.
1S4S, convention was concluded between
the two governments cTurk and Persian)
and delimitation OF frontier signed. A
Russian and English commission interviewed
to regulate the differences which were rails
ed on the subject, and map was furnished
by them in October is. 1869. OF the terrific
ry In litigation 1t Was recognized that from
Mohammerah to Mount Ararat band OF
TOO miles in length and from twenty to for
ty miles In width constituted q neutral
zone.
Nevertheless. in violation Of the articles
of the treaty of 1S47 the Turks penetrated
the east Of the zone Qn Persia) and until
now Turkey has refused to withdraw not
withstanding the representations OF the In
terested powers"
Russia and England sustained Persia In
that conflict with Turkey. What are the
reasons OF the sultan for this
The Sultan's manifest violation of Persian
ObiectP territory To profit by the
ancient religious schism
which separates Sunnites and Chiites9 The
truth is that at every point for several
months Turkey has shown a marked inten-
ton to interfere In every Mussulman coun-
try where 1t has seemed possible to rally
around her standards the Mussulmans OF
the earth and thus accomplish her dream
of pan!slamism
The review Questions Diplomatiaues ct
Coloniaies of the 18th OF May. In the course
OF an article by NJ. Jacques Bardout en-
titled lie Confiit Anglo-Turc." says: Be