The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-07-17


The government OF Egypt defes
definition. Nominally, the khcdive is
the supreme authority, aided by a ma
tive legislative council and assembly
Ctheir business is to advise, however,
rather than to legislate), but back Of
the khediVc is Lord Cromer. the agent
and consul general of England. whose
power is underlined and almost an
limited. England's authority in Egypt
was signed after h bOmbardment OF
Alexandria in 1882. In these articles
it was announced that England's oc-
cupancy would be of brief duration:
but in 1904 h secured from France,
Germany, Austria-IIungary and Italy
consent to postpone the fixing Of q
date for her withdrawal, she at the
same time announcing that it was not
her intention to interfere With the
political situation in Egypt.
E~ngIand's reasons for remaining in
Egypt are very clearly stated by Lord
Miner in his book entitled "England
in Egypt" lie says: "On the one
Inland, u commercial interests III
Egypt are so great and growing that
her prosperity, which would be imIne-
diatcly wrecked by my government. is
d matter of concern to us. Secondly,
and chiefly, the geographical position
of Egypt compels attention to her po-
litical condition. We have nothing to
gain by owning the country ourselves,
but we should have a great deal to
fear from its falling into the posses
sion OF another power
England's interests in Egypt are nu~
merous. She takes most Of the exports
of Egypt and sells more than any 9TH
Ier country to Egypt. In the last re-
port of Lord CrOmer it is shown that
Great Britain has the benefit of con
siderably more than half of the con-
tracts above $4,000 entered into. hV
the Egyptian railways for supplies.
Then, England's citizens own land in
Egypt and they are also interested
in h Egyptian debt. which. BY the
way, amounts to about $500. 600. 600.
or. approximately, 500 per acre of
the tillable land.
The irrigation schemes now devel-
.oping will require the expenditure Of
large sums on contract and these will
give opportunities for English CAPT
tai.
The second reason given by Lord
Miner is emphasized by him and is
probably the paramount one. viz. that
she cannot afford to have the valley of
the Nile held by a rival power. Her
interests in the Soudan and in India.
lead her to guard the Suez canal with
jealous care. Lord Miner suggests as
9. reason why England should re-
main in Egypt hat her withdrawal
might be followed by such an abuse
Of government as to lead to bank
ruptcv and French intervention. The
old IF we don't do It
somebody else will" is presented as
the strongest support of British inter
ference.
English influence. however, has been
less harmful in Egypt than in India.
and this is probably due. in the main.
to two causes: first. her influence is
eXerted through a native government.
whose authority she acknowledges:
and second, because the interests
which other nations have in Egypt
make them oppose any enCroachmente
on the part Of England. while in India
she has a free hand. As an illustra-
ton | might cite the fact that she
.Compels the Indian TO support the In
dian army while she paws the ordinary
expenses of the 5000 British soldiers
in Egypt and only asks Egypt Ia pay
for the extraordinary expenses. It is
no reflection upon England to say
that she is better for being watched.
We believe that in regard to our own
public men, and it IS simply a recog-
milton Of the fraility of human nature.
ord Cro,neT has been in Fgypt for -
years. and his reports indicate q desire
to advance the welfare of the people
of Egypt. He has doubtless been help
full TO the khediye. He has insisted
upon honesty in the public service and
has been a friend Of education.
While the national debt contains a
large moun of usurious interest and
is therefore much heavier than il
ought to be, it has been funded at a
lower rate of interest and is being
gradually paid off. The debts that are
being incurred for the extension Of
irrigation Will be more than redeemed
by the sale of the land reclaimed, and
the country viii hen have the bene-
fit, not only Of the reclaimed land but
of the increased value of lands iDdi-
rectly benefited. Although the salt tax
Contrary to Lord Cromer's advice
is still over 200 per cent, the per