The San Francisco call., 1910-06-13
NATIONALISTS OF
EGYPT ARE SCORED
British Agent, Sir EIdOn Gorst,
Flags Men Who Incite, but
Dare Not Act

The annual report of Sir Eldon Gorst,
the British agent in Egypt, which was
issued as a white paper, confirms the
seriousness of the nationalist agitation.
Its most striking features is the strong
terms in which the nationalist leaders
are held responsible for the murder of
the late premier, Boutros Pasha.
The premier was fatally wounded.
says the report, "as he was leaving his
Office by the hand of one of those miser-
able creatures of feeble intellect and
disordered ideas, who are unconscious
dupes of the greater criminals who
preach violent methods which they are
afraid themselves to carry into effect.
Through their wretched and mis-
guided follower will pay the penalty 1
have no hesitation in saying that the
leaders of the nationalist party are
morally responsible for the murder of
Boutros Pasha. For years past they
have fomented these attacks in full
knowledge of the fact that their words
could not fail TO stir the ignorant and
excitable youths to whom they were
addressed to the act of violence which
they now pretend TO ignore"
PRESS LAWS NOT ENFORCED
Sir Eldon Gorst admits that the new
press laws have been applied perhaps
with too great moderation. They were
not sufficient to prevent the extreme
nationalistic journals from continuing g
to pour odium and contempt on the au-
thorities, and the government may
perhaps be blamed for not having used
more freely the powers which they pos
sessed TO put a stop to these abuses.
Sad experience has now shown that
the attitude of silent contempt does not
suffice in Egypt. 1t is possible, though
not, ] fear, probable, that those who
have been engaged for the last few
years in stirring up the evil passions
of the ignorant and credulous may at
last perceive that they are playing with
fire, and endeavor to mend their ways.
IF this should not turn out to be
the case, it will become necessary to
apply the press law with greater Sc
verify than heretofore. No obligation
of government is more imperative than
to protect efficiently the lives and repu-
tations of those who devote themselves
to the service of their country"
Turning to the legislative council, Sir
Eldon Gorst says:
s-The weak points of this institution
at present are that the majority of the
members are easily led astray by the
more turbulent spirits, and that the
chief preoccupation of all of them is to
for want of patriotism which is the in
variable result of any support, however
mild or platonic, given to the proposals
of the government.
DEFENDS ON MEMBERS
with time and patience it may be
hoped that the members will free them
selves from these faults, and will grad
uaIly become able to form an inde-
pendent judgment on the matters
brought before them without being
oVerawed by the loquaciousness of some
of their colleagues, or led astray by
nationalist calumnies. l can only re-
peat what I said in last years report
viz, that the future development of the
institution must depend upon the wis
dom and discretion displayed by the
members themselves.
with regard to the election of the
new provincial councils, the agent re-
marks: THE interest taken was quite
exceptional for an oriental country, and
justifies the hope that the large land
owners and notables in the provinces
viii help in making these bodies a use
full and successful part of the nlachin-
cry of government.
IF that should turn out to be the
case, 1 venture to reiterate my opinion
that this measure WILL in the long run
prove a not unimportant step in the
direction of preparing the Egyptians to
govern themselves"
In conclusion, Sir Eldon Gorst COM
ments on the uneasiness which has
been caused among Junior English Off
cials by the appointment of Egyptians
to posts hitherto filled by Europeans
/ He declares that Notwithstanding the
| Improvement in the raw material OF
which the native public service is made
! there can be no doubt that a consid-
erable number of the higher posts
must inevitably be filled for many years
! to come by Europeans.