The evening papers of Tuesday contained a report that orders
had been issued to the British Garrison to evacuate Cairo, retaining possession only of the citadel. The troops displaced were to be encamped in Alexandria, or to be sent over to increase the garrison of Cyprus, the obvious inference being that the Government were preparing for the immediate evacuation of Egypt. The report, which created some excite- ment, was emphatically denied from Egypt next day, and was probably invented to cover some speculation on the Stock Exchange. There has been no meeting of the Cabinet, no new protest has been received from France, and although Mr. Labonchere and Sir Charles Dilke threaten a motion of "no confidence" when Parliament meets, and make of Egypt their pretext, Mr. Gladstone is not the man to alienate the Scotch vote under a threat of censure six months hence. Besides, he is quite aware that on this subject he can rely on Unionist support, and may snap his fingers at any hostile demonstration. Lord Rosebery may, of course, take up once more the proposals for quitting and neutralising Egypt, but as he will have to include the Soudanese in them, rapidity is not to be expected. There is no native force in Egypt that could hold the Arabs back six weeks.
