Parliament reassembled on Thursday, and, of course, Sir Stafford Northcote
was " heckled " by Sir J. G-oldsmid about Egypt. Equally, of course, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his most smooth and conciliatory manner, refused to make any reply. The Government did not know from any written document what had occurred in Egypt. He did not know that Mr. Rivers Wilson had declined to be dismissed. No appeal whatever had been made to the Sultan. The British Govern- ment was in communication with that of France, but had as yet given no pledge to take any common action. He would rather not say at present what course the Italian Government was taking. All this means, we presume, either that the Cabinet does not know what to do, and waits for some endurable sug- gestion from M. Waddington, or that it has resolved upon some course of action which must be concealed from Parliament. We incline to the former theory, this Government being, as regards action, as weak as water, and we trust, from its very weakness, unwilling to accede to any project of joint occupa- tion. That would rain the people of Egypt, and perhaps end in war with France.
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