Sir Evelyn Baring, tho new British Representative at Cairo, has
been interviewed by the correspondent of the Standard, and has stated his impression of the position in Egypt. It is not optimist. Sir Evelyn repudiates all idea of permanent occupa- tion, but affirms that the carrying out of needful reforms must take a very long time. The Courts were not yet ready, and could not be ready till the middle of December, and this is the first grand need. As for other things, he said, it is useless to press so hard, for reforms cost money, and the Egyptian Government, with the indemnities to pay, the Army of Occupation to support, and a war to carry on in the Soudan, has .no money to spare. It is evident, therefore, that no remissions of taxation can be granted, and as nothing has been done to restrict the claims of usurers, it is clear that in Egypt we rather increase than, reduce the pecuniary burdens on the people. That has been the invariable result of double government in the East, the people having to pay their own burdens and the foreign burdens too, without receiving in return the justice, order, and equality which are all that Europeans can secure to them. If they were governed, they would' be content, though poor, for they would not be oppressed ; and if they were let alone, they would deal with the oppressors, but at present they are frogs under a flagstone. They cannot lift it, or appeal to it for help.
Previous page
