The Khedive, who is striving bard to recover his autocracy
—being, he says, a wealthy man, and careless if he has to resign—has employed Mr. Wilfred Blunt to state his case in an English Review. It is, substantially, that all Egyptians dislike us, that our " reforms " are exaggerated, except as regards hydraulics, and that English Radicals are bound to support the Egyptian cry for self-government. The Khedive denies, also, that he is bound to follow English advice. He is only bound to hear it. Lord Rose bery, in reply, publishes his despatch to Lord Cromer of February 16th, in which he repeats that Lord Cromer's protest against the Khedive's act in dismissing Ministers, must, if disregarded, have been followed by graver conscquences. The occupation of Egypt, he affirms, cannot yet cease, for reasons which he enumerates, and especially because withdrawal would be followed by confusions necessitating, under still more difficult circumstances, a fresh intervention. If new and dangerous circumstances arise, it would be necessary to consult the Sultan and the European Powers, and make, Lord Rosebery hints, new proposals. The tone of the despatch is firm to rigour; but it is doubtful if it convinced the Khedive, who relies on the support of France, and of that section of his own troops which is drawn from the fellabeen. Education does not open the eyes of an Oriental, though experience does.
Previous page
