As we felt sure be would, the Sultan yielded just
before the period named in the ultimatum expired, and it was therefore unnecessary to apply the naval pressure which had been decided on by the Government. On Sunday, the last day, the Sultan tried a characteristically ingenious manoeuvre. Instead of accepting the approximately straight line to be drawn from El Rafab to Akabah as the base of delimitation, be desired to make the line instead the status quo ante. This would have enabled the Turkish Commissioners to raise innumerable difficulties in the way of delimitation, or even to reopen the whole question. In other words, they would have only withdrawn their troops for the time, and might have begun a new series of aggressions when they thought the opportunity again served. Fortunately the Government stood absolutely firm, and refused to make any terms whatever. The Palace was informed that it must either agree to the British terms wholly and absolutely, or take the consequences. Accordingly the Sultan yielded without having extorted the slightest concession.
