The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-07-06
SERIOUS SITUATION TO
Deal With IN EGYPT
BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY
SPRINGS SURPRISE ON,PAR-
LTAMENT.

Ia Sensational Speech That is Listened
to Amid Intense Silence He Declares
the Recent Attack on British Officers
at Tantab Not Observation-Disclosures
Manifestation of the FanaticaI Spirit
which Has Necessitated Strengthen
Ing the Garrison--severer Measures
May Have to be Used.
London, July 5.-Parliament and the
country were given surprise tonight
by an unexpected and sensational
speech by Sir Edward Grey, the foreign
secretary, on the situation in Egypt.
An interesting debate on foreign af-
fairs had been anticipated when the
house of commons took up the foreign
estimates, but on account of Russia and
the Congo affairs rather than Egypt.
All other subjects, however, were tenn
porarily forgotten when the house real
lzed the momentous character of Sir
Edward Grey's deliverance with regard
to Egypt.
Speaking in solemn tone and amid
tense silence, the minister declared that
the recent attack on British officers at
Iantab was not accidental, buta delib-
crate manifestation of the fanatical
spirit which had necessitated the
strengthening of the garrison in Egypt,
and declared that unless the authority
OF Lord Cromer and the Egyptian gov
ernment We're strongly upheld it might
lead to situation requiring the adop-
ton of such unconstitutional measures
to meet the emergency as would be es-
pecially distasteful to the liberal gov
ernment.
John Dillon, nationalist strongly de-
nounced what he termed the brutal
barbarism of foggings and executions
in Egypt accusing Sir Edward Grey
of desire to cloak the affair.
Sir Erward, in a general reply, stated |
that all foreign relations were friendly. |
With regard to the Egyptian affair, he
accepted full responsibility and pointed |
out that danger might accrue, when
dealing with eastern peoples, through |
discussions of this kind. The secretary
proceeded to refer to the great growth |
of fanatical feeling in Egypt and |
throughout North Africa recently. |
which might necessitate even further
measures ta rratsct Europeans in /
Egypt. and, speaking In solemn man
ner, said:
"As things are now, say deliberate
ly and with full sense of responsible
ity that If parliament does anything at
this moment to weaken or destroy the
of the Egyptian government
you will come face to face with very
serious situation; for should fanaticism
get the better Of constituted authority
there might arise the necessity for ex-
treme measures"
Dealing with the Congo situation, the
foreign secretary said he distrusted the
proposed reforms because the system
was wrong. He disllked trading COM
panies, and believed the root of the
whole mischief was in the system un-
der which the state itself was a trad
Ing company, and monopollst compa-
nies held administrative power. If
other powers would join Great Britain
In insisting on reforms the government
would welcome them. If the Congo
state talked of Its rights, Sir Edward
said, Great Britain also had rights.
The question Of the reservation Of enor-
nous areas for private property must
Oe dealt with, and If any dispute arose
here was The Hague tribunal. He be-
ieved it would be beneficial to resume
British consular jurisdiction, but this
would be discouraging Belgium from
aking over the Congo government, and
therefore he thought the government
should wait; but 1t could not wait for
ever.
Sir Edward said he could not imagine
he Russian parliament Interpreting the
risit of the British fleet as taking sides.
The only safe rule In the present Rus
;ian trouble, he added, was to avoid
omment and interference. Through all
hat was happening there were signs
hat the vitality, energy and character
# great people We're. working to a
yreat future.