The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-02
Twentieth Century Egypt
III. English Rule in Egypt
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Cairo. Egypt.-The government of Ed
/ ward VII of England imposes its will upon
/ the government of Abbas IL of Egypt by
means of an army of occupation, some
/ o,OJ strOng, and several men-Of-war con-
Venlently near to Alexandria In every
/ essential particular Egypt is ruled by
| England as absolutely as is Ireland The
BRUSH make no claim to territorial rights
/ IN the valley of the Nile. Indeed they
/ recognize the authority Of the khedive.
as well as the shadOwy suzerainty of the
sultan, with full ceremonial regard The
British control is masked behind the sim
l,l5 ma chl5lefy OF an ordinary consulate
general ct the ministers of state must
act Is their British advisers indicate. and
the khediVe cannot exercise any of the
important prerogatives of his station with
out the consent Of the British consul gen
England promised. a quarter of cen
| fury ago, to leave Egypt at once The
promise was not fulfilled. Since that time
the English have declared again and
again. at the tnsistence of France. that
they would withdraw the army of oc-
cupauon. as soon as order was FULLY re-
stored in Egypt That promise still
stands, but evacuation is as far away as
ever. Five years ago the French and
English came to an understanding and
since that time there has been no power
70 suggest, be ii in ever SO mild a man
ner, that II was time for the British TO
move on Yet II is not fair to condemn
'perfidious Albion" for its sauare-n1iIe
fever. and to accuse the British of TAX
ing territory without any excuse. on the
basis Of the present peculiar condition
IN Egypt. When England came to EgvDt
it was absolutely necessary for some ont
side power 10 interfere to restore order
in the country. During the quarter Of
century of British occupation the condi-
ton OF the Egyptians has improved so
materially that It must be admitted that
the English have done more for the Egvp-
tans than for themselves.
When Ferdinand De Lesseps persuaded
the Egyptian government, then prosper
Gus and free of debt, to engage in the
Suez canal project, he plunged the knife
INTO the heart Of Egypt. When the miser-
able fellaheen were sCOOping the sand out
IF that great ditch with their bare hands
they dug the grave of Egyptian national
lty, Ambitious 10 be considered an en-
lightened ruler the Khedive Tsmaf lent
all the credit of his country TO the ca
nal, robbed his people of everything they
ruptcy.
The European bondholders demanded
their pound of flesh and the united pow
ers OF Europe proceeded to cut it from
lsmalIs heart An International commits
SION was named TO administer the finances
OF the country and to arrange TO pay the
interest coupons. An international court
was established before which even the
state Of Egypt must answer to its credit
OTs- Finally the British and French gov
ernments practically assumed control of
the state. Ismail rebelled against his sIav-
cry and was banished to Europe His
son Tewfek was made khedive and the
dual control continued
Then came a movement among the
Egyptians to expel the Europeans, which
eliminated in a rebellion. led BY Arab
Pasha- That rebellion brought about an
arChy in the country The British invited
the French to join in an armed interven-
ton. The French declined, and the Eng
ish took the responsibility upon them
selves. Alexandria was bOmbarded and
a portion Of IL destroyed and shortly aft
erwards the British soldiers met and de-
feated the Arabist army at Tel-el-Kebfr !
Two days later, on Sept. -, 1882, the
British army occupied Cairo, and here it |
is today.
A year later Sir EVELYN Barring was
sent to Cairo as consul general He as /
5umed practical control of Egyptian af- /
fairs and set out to enforce d program /
ot reform Later he was raised TO the /
oeeTage as the Earl of Cromer, and he /
at the head of affairs in Cairo 4
until less than two years ago. As a /
matter Of fact. England in Egypt has /
meant simply Lord Cromer in Egypt" /
Re complained bitterly of the lack OF any
definite policy Of the British government /
to support him, but for all that he ruled /
With the power Of a despOt and always 4
with the conviction that he was doing
light. Opposition to Lord Cromer per-
;onally was very strong at times. Agita-
ion against the continuance Of the Brit
sh rule has been rife ever since the first
rOop of redcOats wheeled into the citadel
square in Cairo.
There are many who sympathize with
his opposition Even some of those who
.dmt that British interference was a good
hing in its time proclaim that the time
las ended and that only evil Will come
# a continuance of the present regime. !
IN the other hand, the British in Egypt
Ieclare that they have done much good
Dut that much more remains to be done
,efOre they can withdraw from the Coun-
ry with safety to themselves. the Egyp-
ians or the peace of the world. They
eclare that the Egyptians are not yet