The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-05-03
CROMER AND GORDON
BITTER CONTROVERSY RAGING IN ENGLAND
AS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MERITS

regard 10 the Lana OF the Nile Is so in
teresting as to merit description in an
other letter all the more as It has never
really been set down in cold print, espe-
cjalIv the all-important role Of the Lon
don Times in the matter. Indeed, few Of
those Englshmen vino look upon their
mastery of Egypt as one Of the great
factors in the grandeur and wealth Of the
British empire have any idea Of the ex-
tent to which the latter is indebted to
the Thunderer.
Gladstone. in the beginning of 1884, had
but two desires with regard TO Egypt.
One was to fulfill as quickly as possible
the pledges which he had voluntarily and
somewhat fOOlishiy given 10 the powers
TO withdraw from the Land OF the Nile
as soon as order nad been restored, and
the other was to avoid Egypt proving any
expense whatsoever TO Great Britain.
For the guiding principle of all his
craftsmanship was domestic economy.
Lord Cromer, therefore, when summoned
from India to assume the virtual control
OF Egypt, at the close Of 1888, was well
aware that what his government expect
ed OF him was that he should avoid
everything that could possibly lead Eng
land into any fresh expense with regard
to Egypt. and that he should restore ad-
miniStrative order as quickly as possible,
so as TO admit OF the withdrawal Of the
British troops At the time when Lord
CTomer first arrived at Cairo, just after
the destruction Of Gen. Hicks expedi-
ton TO the west Of Khart0um a small
detachment OF English or Indian troops
furnishing the backbone to the Egyptian
army. then already well advanced in its
organization by Field Marshal Sir EVELYN
Wood, Lord Grenfell. and Lord Kitch-
ener, would have proved sufficient 70 sup
press the Mahdist Instruction and 10 re-
tain the hold Of the Sudan.
Rather than permit this relative ex-
pense, the English government Of the
day. despite the protest of the Khedive
and of every one Of the native statesmen
at Cairo, insisted upon the abandonment
OF the Sudan, turning a deaf ear 70 the
arguments 10 the effect that the Sudan
was the center of a very important trade.
and that it was necessary to hold, not
only the city, but also that part Of the
Sudan that lies along the banks Of the
Upper Nile. IN order to assure the safety
Of Egypt. MT Gladstone would not lis
ten. and the consequence was that for
the sake Of a comparatively small econ
omy at the time the Sudan was abandon
ed to the Mahdi. at the cost of millions
ton Of Central Africa was allowed to re-
lapse into barbarism and all its attend
ant evils and that a vast amount OF
English and Egyptian money and much
English and Egyptian blood had TO be
expended in reconquering the Sudan
when the authorities in England. some
what late IN the day, became convinced
OF the truth of the arguments urged upon
them at the close of 1888. on the abandon
ment Of the Central African dependencies
OF the Khediviate being decreed from
London.
If I lay emphasis on the name Of Mr..
Gladstone in the matter. Il is because his
opinions were not shared by all the mem
bers Of his cabinet Thus I have before
me copies OF several private letters writ
ten by me to Khediye Tewfik Ia Febru-
airy, 1884, recording for his information
conversations with several prominent
English statesmen after my arrival from
Cairo, and I ind in a letter dated Feb
ruary Il, 1884, written Immediately after
long talk with Joseph Chamberlain.
then president Of the board of trade and
a member Of the government. in which
relate how. after having placed before
him the arguments Of the Egyptian min
the Sudan. he. Mr.. Chamberlain. declared
that he. for his part, was In favor Of
Egypt retaining the Eastern Sudan: that
IS TO say. ali that portion extending be-
tween the Nile and the Red Sea, lnclud-
ing khartoum, Berber. and down south
along the Nile TO GOndOkOro and beyond.
! pointed out that il this could be made
known, that IL the English cabinet would
agree TO this, and the fact were 10 be
proclaimed at once in Egypt, many Of
the native tribes Of the Sudan then wav-
ering in their allegiance would remain
loyal to the Egyptian government. in
stead Of going over 20 the Mahdi. as il
would be 10 their interest to do in the
event of Egypt definitely Withdrawing
entirely from the Sudan. and that Cor
don's position at KhartOum would be
strengthened thereby.
Sir Charles Dixie. whom I saw on the
following morning. and who informed me
that the purport Of my conversation Of
the day before had been repeated TO him
by Mr.. Chamberlain. gave me to under
stand that he shared the latter's views
with regard 10 Egypt Both. however.
found themselves unable to bring Mr..
Gladstone 10 their way Of thinking. and
finally the Grand Old Nan became so
diviate that his colleagues, his relatives.
and his friends avoided as much as pos
sible any mention of the subiect-a sub
Ject which had the effect Of causing him
to lose his temper 10 so great a degree
as 10 affect his health He was firmly
bent on an early withdrawal from Egypt.
and 81 the best would consider a proposal
10 retain possession of both extremities
Of the Suez Canal so as TO command
the high road 10 India-of course, a
wholly impraeticabie scheme. since the
canal cannot be held without Egypt
Il was 70 this attitude on the part Of Mr.
Gladstone. coupled with the Incidence Of
Lord Granville and his aversion 10 ali
unnecessary trouble. that must be
ascribed the policy of the abandonment
Of the Sudan, the sending Of Gordon on
his hopeless mission to Khartoum. and
the delay in the dispatch Of Lord WoIse-
feys expedition 10 rescue him until too
late.
Lord CromeF's hook viii be better I'M
derstood when it is borne in mind that
his sentiments with regard to Egypt IN
derwent at different points three radical
changes, which undoubtedly Influenced
his policy with regard to the Land Of the
Nile, When he first went to Cairo in
1877, as Maj. Barring. Il was as commits
sioner OF the debt. that is to say. as a
representative Of the English bondhold-
eTs- In those days his views with regard
to Egypt were dictated wholly by con
siderations of the English creditors OF
the Egyptian government. and his one
object was TO secure provision for the
proper payment of the coupons and the
reorganization of the finances for the
benefit of the bondholders.
When he returned TO Egypt at the close
Of 1888, six years afterward, as consul
general and minister resident, the idea
which dominated his action was to com
ply with the requirements OF Mr.. Glad
stone and Of his government that there
should be no further. expense in connec-