One hundred years ago
Arabi Pasha's letter to Mr Gladstone, received through Mr Wilfrid Blunt, has been published. It is hardly the kind of thing which a Mahommedan would have written, and has probably been written for him by one of his European allies. It is dated July 2nd, and states that 'the first gun England fires in Egypt will ab- solve the Egyptians from all treaties, contracts, and conventions, that the Control and debt will cease, that the property of Europeans will be con- fiscated, that the canals will be destroyed, the communications cut, and that use will be made of the religious zeal of Mahommedans to preach a holy war in Syria, in Arabia, and in India.' The first blow struck at Egypt by England or her allies will cause blood to flow through the breadth of Asia and of Africa, the responsibility of which will be on the head of England.' That is very tall talk and very loose talk. The Mahommedans in India care much more for their understanding with the Hin- doos, than they care about their religious brotherhood with Arabians. Not one of our Indian regiments will fight the worse in Egypt for being Mahommedans.
Spectator, 29 July 1882
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