If Abbas II. really provoked the situation in Alexandria which
we described last week, he has drawn on himself needless humiliation. He has not had a week's enjoyment of his temper. On Friday he was compelled, probably by very strong pressure indeed, to resummon the Legislative Council in order to carry Mr. Gorst's Bill for internal reorganisation, and to promise a decree, since published, creating a special tribunal, with Sir J. Scott at its head, and only one native member out of five, for trying all crimes committed against British military or naval forces now in occupation of Egypt. The Tribunal has power of life and death, can sit anywhere, and may in emergency dispense with forms. On Saturday, moreover, his Highness pledged himself not to remove the Ministry. The new Tribunal is a tremendous weapon in Lord Cromer's hand ; but it is believed that in its presence the agitation in Alexandria, which had become dangerous if only because the soldiers and sailors would have defended themselves, will die away, and the Ministry, existing by British interference, will take its guidance from Lord Cromer.
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