This was understood by the entire House, and Mr. Chamberlain
immediately rose to intimate that the Govern- ment declaration was most satisfactory to the Unionist party, and that they would support the Foreign Office view. This means that the House of Commons is practically unanimous; for though Mr. Labouchere rose to condemn Sir E. Grey's speech as "a menace to France," and a declaration that we should never quit Egypt, he has only, as the Naval vote re- vealed, thirty-two followers for his policy of "Little England." 'The country will be unanimous also; for while there will be -difference of opinion as to the wisdom of our policy in Egypt, there will be none on the question that while we are there we must control the Nile to the Lakes, and that in no case can we recede before French threats. We are of those who look upon French advance in Northern Africa without jealousy, and who regard a war with France with something of horror ; but we cannot consent to a withdrawal upon which France, as apart from Europe at large, has no right to insist. She ought, as we have always insisted, to have some compensation for the loss of her influence on the Nile ; but it must be settled by reasonable agreement, and not dic- tated to us under a threat of compulsion. It is gravely to be regretted that the French Government, in order to conciliate the " Colonial " party, has allowed its agents to go so far ; but it is imperative that this country should state distinctly the limits of her forbearance. This has now been done
by Lord Kimberley, who is a very firm man ; and Englishmen have only to await with silent fortitude the decision at which the French nation may arrive. The French people, we feel sure, have no wish to possess the wild regions their agents are beginning to enter, but they are allowing their rulers to intrigue for the evacuation of Egypt by very dangerous methods.
