The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-07

higher authority and no great re-
sponsibility than any one of the four
cussed by the diplomatic corps in
Cairo, the Eritirh representative could
teen colleagues.
For instance. throughout long
period Of years.. changes in legislation
concerning foreigners were ordinarily
effected IN Egypt by international
commissions composed Of the 'diplo-
matte representatives and their tech
nical assistants, the judges OF the
mixed tribunals. In such assemblies
the representative of the paramount
power in Egypt had one vote. like all
the others and no more. Nor was the
Inconvenience of such an situation
materially dfmished by the fact that
finally decided by the commission. but
by the foreign governments them
selves in their own capitals. For since
such governments almost invaribly
acted on the advice OF their represen-
tatives in Egypt, experience proved
that measures which failed to pass the
commission would not get through the
diplomatic chancelleries and Euro
pean ministers OF foreign agairs. or
would. at any rate, neccssitate such
arduous and protracted negotiations
that the Egyptian government often
preferred to abandon them in despair.
Again. in current affairs Of less grave
importance the susceptibilities OF the
other diplomats could usually be
counted on to oppose the smallest
differentiation in the treatment of the
British. representative and Of them
Iselves--a circumstance which, in view
Of the essential necessities OF the
situation. not infrequently gave rise
to more or less serious embarrass-
ments Of various kinds"
These then were the conditions
under which both Lord Cromer and
Lord Kitchener were required to do
their great work. Tho former had to
find and develop the means for estab-
fishing British authority without any
presidents or outstanding legal po-
sition. Speaking of this period OF
ltwenty-four years, Sir Melcolm Nc
Ilwraith says that it's leading feature
was the gradual gathering together
OF all the threads OF government and
their concentration In the hands OF
one man. whose commanding abilities
combined with the circumstances OF
the times and the stage Of political
development which the country had
attained, marked him out for supreme
power. These conditions inevitably
involved corresponding and continu-
GUS struggle with those forces which
resented what may perhaps not I'M
naturally considered an unwarrantable
tencroachments on their powers and
prerogatives, and which resisted his
authority by active opposition or pas
sive obstruction. The native minis
tiers OF those days were not-with one
or two striking exceptions-men OF
first rate ability, and were therefore,
for the most part, content to leave
the conduct Of Affairs to their British
coadjutors. There were, however.
from time to time, more especially ia
the early period Of his administration
trials Of strength between, the more
daring spirits among them and the
masterful British representative.
THE main and most powerful source
Of opposition, however. throughout this
period. was the Khedive, Abbas Hilmy.
himself Lord Cromer has given some
account Of his relations with this per-
sonage and Of the lattcr's deplorable