NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MR. GLADSTONE made his anxiously expected state- ment on the Agreement with France as to Egyptian affairs on Monday evening. He confined himself rigidly to narrative, but, of course, contrived to make that narrative an argument for his action. Avoiding all mention of finance, with which, as we have shown elsewhere, he could not deal, he stated with grave lucidity the heads of the agreement. The French Government, which he described as loyal throughout the nego- tiations, had "entirely and finally" resigned all pretentious to revive the condominium or Dual Control, and had given "un- equivocal assurances" that, in the event of the evacuation of Egypt, they would not send troops thither. On the other hand, Great Britain had agreed not to remain in Egypt beyond -January 1st, 1888, "if the Powers of Europe should declare the state of the country was such as to allow of our depar- ture without peril to its peace and order." She would, in fact, only remain on the invitation of Europe. Further, she had agreed that the Caisse de la Dette, the chairman of which will be English, should have the right of seeing the Egyptian Budget and suggesting alterations ; and an effective power of preventing 4‘ excesses beyond its limits," unless made necessary by actual peril. Finally, she had agreed to consider with France, before 1888, a plan for the "neutralisation of Egypt," and for the settlement of the Suez Canal upon the basis of the despatch of January 3rd, 1883, which virtually makes the Canal a free arm of the sea, but considers it to be within the three-mile limit.
