Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-06-04

| you must be extremely careful not to
let it reach the ears of Colonel War
ton, the British representative in
Cairo
AT length thought l could under
stand something of the situation. Turn
ing again to De Lesseps. inquired:
And you. M. le Vicomte, am to
be equally careful that your interest
in this matter does not transpire?
The old man smiled. and shook his
head again, but with less energy
There is no reason that the khe-
dive should not be informed that | in
terest myself in the negotiation from
the point of view ! have spoken of.
The fact is he went on, assuming a
more confidential tone, that a diff
Guilty has already arisen between the
Suez Canal company and the khedive,
OF which l should be glad to avoid the
repetition. Last year, owing to GER
tain differences with the British gov
eminent on a question of tolls, the
company was obliged to threaten to
close the canal to their ships of war
No sooner was this threat made
known, than Ismail Pasha took it upon
himself to interfere, in his character
of the principal shareholder, and to
strenuously forbid the company to
adopt any such course. We have rea-
son to think that this action was the
result OF representations by the Brit
ish government through their envoy;
and you will agree with me that this
is form of pressure which could no
longer be brought to bear If the shares
of the company were held by private
Frenchmen.'
Il nodded my head. Everything was
now clear to me.
Let me see If I rightly understand
this affair, / said, looking from one
to the other of my two companions
! am to proceed to Cairo as a private
individual, the agent Of the gentlemen
whose names are written on this pa
per, on whose behalf / am to induce
the khedive to transfer to them his
shares in the canal. Should 1t become
necessary, am to offer to his high
ness in confidence the guarantee of
the French government. At the same
time, as patriotic Frenchman. may
permit myself the pleasure of thinking
that this transaction will deprive
Great Britain of the opportunity of
making any effectual remonstrance,
should the Suez Canal company at any
future time find it necessary, for A.
nancial reasons, to close the canal to
her men-of-war.'
DE Lesseps smiled and nodded. The
minister gave me a look of intelli-
gence.
You have exactly comprehended
the position he was good enough to
say, and / see that we did not do
wrong to select you. Now go and
make your preparations to start as
quickly as possible-and be careful not
to come near the Quai DOrsay till the
whole thing has been arranged
Il bowed, and made by adieu. With
in week l was in Cairo"
II was provided with letters of in
PRODUCTION which speedily obtained for
me private interview with Ismail
Pasha. The character of this khedive
is well known. His reckless extrav.
agance had reduced his country to
bankruptcy, and it was on this extray-
agance that / relied as the motive for
inducing him to accept the offer which
| was empowered to make.
The palace at Cairo, in which he
received me. was strange mixture OF
European and Oriental luxury. Figure
to yourself marble courts surrounded
by myrtle-trees and fountains. leading
into saloons which might have been
upholstered from Paris. This bizarre
combination reproduced itself in the
person of Ismail Pasha. whose swarthy
eastern features contrasted strangely
with his western attire.
I have the honor to wait upon
your highness,' said, as soon as the
ceremonial salutations had been ex-
changed, on behalf OF an influential
syndicate of bankers in Paris, who
have charged me to lay before you a
proposal of some magnitude, and
which relates TO the Suez canal
Il saw his dark eyes glitter as
pronounced this name. He responded
morosely:
II am tired of the Suez canal. M.
lie Baron. 1t has not fulfilled the ex-
pectations l was led to form from it,
and it is, besides, a cause of many
political embarrassments. But go on;
explain your proposal
1t is one which, if you accept il
may relieve your highness Of some of
those embarrassments OF which you
speak, answered respectfully. AT
the same time the political suscepti-
bilities which are aroused by every
transaction relating to the canal COM
pei me to ask that this negotiation
may remain a secret entirely between
your highness and the persons for
whom act
"A frown crossed his face as / made
this request, which it was easy to see
provoked his suspicious.
If 1t is mere question of private
finance on which you approach me.
there can be no objection to what YOU
propose, he replied cautiously. But
If 1t should turn out to involve political
considerations, 1t will evidently he
necessary for me to consult with nv
advisers before giving you an answer.
However, | will hear what you have
to say
.aThus annouro .aa - -,