Evening star., 1952-08-03

clined: the Khendive then re-
sorted to intrigue. He prevailed
on a French librettist, Mariette
Bey ESQ titled by the Khedive
for his work in Egypt to pre-
pare anonymously the libretto
of an opera and see that it
reached Verdi. The plan worked.
Verdi accepted an offer of 150,-
600 francs to compose and di-
rect Aida. today one of the
worlds most famous operas.
But Ismail's passion for re-
form and his boundless aspira-
tions to national and personal
power. brought downfall to him
and foreign controls to Egypt.
He had mercilessly wrung the
poverty-ridden population dry
of funds, and had borrowed
abroad to the limit of the ma
tion's credit. The reckoning
came roughly and in 1875 Is
mail was forced to sell his Suez
Canal shares to Great Britain.
Even this was not enough. Step
by step, British and French
creditors and bondholders forced
foreign control commissions on
the nation. Finally, in 1879,
when Ismail attempted to throw
off his restrictions, he was per-
emptorily removed as Khedive
by the Sultan. His son Tew-
Ak was proclaimed his sue
ceSSor.
Foreign Control
The story of Egypt and its
ruling dynasty since the begin
ningS of direct foreign interven-
tion is one of continuous
troubles. The nation has been
occupied by British armies. its
governments under the direct
and indirect thumbs of a Brit
ish protectorate. Inevitably the
long period Of foreign domina-
ton has banked up deep
smoldering fires of nationalism.
Governments have been over
thrown and rulers harrassed by
the constant ferment. Tewfik.
a moderate Khedive, managed
to maintain cordial relations
with his British advisers. But
his son, Abbas Hilmi, who took
the throne on Tewfik's death in
1892, was impatient. More
British control resulted. The
tension did not ease until Alb
bas Hilmi had retreated.
The outbreak of World War I
in 1914 further muddled the
affairs of Egypt, which found it.
self a nation owing allegiance
to Turkey Ca German ally) while
largely governed by Britain. The
Khedive Abbas, loyal to Turkey,
was deposed by proclamation
and the government pledged al
legiance. to the Allied cause.
HuSein Kamel. second son Of
Ismail, was proclaimed ruler
with the title Sultan of Egypt"
He survived two attempted as
sassinations before he died Of
natural causes in 1917. Prince
Fuad. sixth son of Ismail, sue
ceeded to the throne when the
heir apparent, Husein's son
Kemal-ed-Din, declined to
serve.
Fuad I proved to be an un-
yielding opponent of the fanati-
cal wing of Egypt's nationalists.
He also welded the royal power
in no uncertain terms, often
verging on the despotism Of his
forebears. Egypt, after long and
bitter negotiations with Britain.
was declared an independent and
sovereign nation in 1923, and
Fuad became the first Egyptian
monarch to bear the title
king" He reigned over a strife
torn land until his death in
1896. when his son Farouk, a
pleasant boy Of is, succeeded
him.
The slim, smiling youth who
took Egypt's throne in 1896
sailed of to Capri on the Nah
roussa last week, a portly and
grim ex-King. He has to send
the yacht back to the Egyptian
Navy. But he can keep a fortune
estimated at not less than $50
million.
And the dynasty still stands
at least for the present. A
regency council will rule in the
name Of the new monarch, a
tiny boy in long dresses. His
heritage stems from the wild
mountains Of Albania. but his
future as King Fuad II is as un-
certain as was that of his mighty
forebear. Mohammed Ali. wnen
he crossed the Mediterranean
into Egypt.