The Egyptian news has, of course, thrown France into a
ferment, and in the French Press charges of the most silly kind have been flung broadcast. One paper even tells the Khedive to be careful that the English do not poison him. On Wednesday, M. Delonele interpolated the Ministry in the Chamber on the subject of Egypt. M. Develle, the new Foreign Minister, replied that, on hearing that the English Government had put pressure on the Khedive, he had asked M. Waddington to see Lord Rose- bery, and that he could, therefore, say no more at present. The Chamber, however, "may rest assured that we shall con- sider with the greatest calmness the question commended to our vigilance, for whatever might impair the rights of the Khedive and the situation established in Egypt by treaties, cannot be indifferent either to the French Government or to Europe." That, of course, only means that the French policy of hostility to us in Egypt is not disavowed by the new Cabinet. The special annoyance felt by the French just now is no doubt due to the fact that they half expected Mr. Gladstone to reverse Lord Salisbury's policy, and to evacuate Egypt. As they find that they have been deceived, they not unnaturally become indignant. Their indignation, however, should not be against England, as a whole, but against Mr. Labouchere and the extreme men whose wild statements they so readily believed.
