A furious struggle is said to have been raging in
the ruling circle at Constantinople. The "fanatics," whom we should call the Conservatives, headed by Mahmoud Nedim, advise the Sultan to demand that England shall fix a date for quitting Egypt; and on her refusal, shall request Europe to make her depart within three months. The statesmen, on the other hand, headed by Said Pasha, advise his Majesty to come to some amicable com- promise with England, and to allow more power to his recog- nised Ministers. The Sultan, after an interval of vacillation, has sided with Said ; and a Note has been addressed to Lord Dufferin, offering to negotiate with England on the basis of the continuance of the Sultan's sovereignty. The Sultan is treacherous, but he is shrewd, and at this moment he has new reason for alarm. There is every sign that Arabia is preparing to declare itself independent, and the British Government, almost without raising a finger, can cut Turkey off from Mecca. This was done during the short war in Egypt, to the Sultan's consternation, and he cannot forget the lesson. With a hostile Shereef in Mecca, his throne would never be safe.
