NEWS OF THE WEEK.
GLADSTONE will, he has stated, give a full account of the agreements entered into with France on Monday, and on Thursday he promised to give the account such a form that a discussion could take place. It la not known whether the loan of £8,000,000 to Egypt, which is unavoidable, will be included in the statement, as it forms no part of the negotiation with France, but it is believed that it will be. Many foreign papers—and two great English papers—express great rage at the idea of a reduction in the interest to be paid on Egyptian Debt, but this view comes neither from Governments nor peoples, but from great bondholders, who desire to force England into a guarantee. They want, in fact, to obtain one hundred for bonds on which they never advanced to Egypt more than fifty. It is still believed that the Conservatives, the Irish Extremists, and the ultra-English Radicals may make the posi- tion of the Government very doubtful ; but those who think so do not understand the constituencies. If the agreement leaves the ultimate position of England in Egypt still open, and we believe it does, the Liberal Party must vote for it, whatever the reluctance of individuals. The country does not intend, unless the propositions laid before it are impossible, to place Lord Salisbury in power. It should be recollected that he has given no pledge binding him to assume a Protectorate, and that Lord Randolph Churchill considers extension of the Empire folly. At least he said so on Wednesday, and it generally takes him a full week to turn round upon himself.
