20 JANUARY 1883, Page 2

We English know that the Government is struggling to avoid

a. Protectorate of Egypt, but we can hardly wonder that the French journalists, irritated by the non-inter- vention policy of their own Chamber, find it difficult to believe in British disinterestedness. The Khedive has this week formally, by decree, abolished the Dual Control, and is about to appoint the English Controller, Sir A. Colvin, sole "Financial Adviser" to the Ministry. Sir Evelyn Wood, an Englishman, has been gazetted Serdar or Generalissimo; and Baker Pasha, also an Englishman, has been made Commandant of Gendarmerie. The European officers of the Army are to be English, and the Khedive is guarded in his palace by Englishmen, who take the most extreme, and we fear necessary, precautions against his assassination. The French, seeing all this, ex- claim that the English intend to dominate without responsi- bility, and that the Khedive is nothing but Lord Grany.ille's vassal. It is not so, as we endeavour to show elsewhere, for the English authority rests on nothing but a garrison, soon to be withdrawn ; but it is unwise to be angry with Frenchmen for thinking Lord Granville very subtle. He certainly has the art of looking as if he had the reins in his hand, though in our judgment he forgets that reins will not prevent horses from jibbing.' Where is the whip P