NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Government has received a disagreeable though not a disabling blow in Egypt. Under the absurd condominium of six Powers which prevails there, the Court of Appeal which represents those Powers has the right of deciding on the application of the reserve fund which the British have created by enforcing good administration. They have decided that the Egyptian Government—i.e., the British—had no right to with- draw £500,000 for the expenses of the expedition to Don gola, and that any one of the six Commissioners of the Caisse has a right to veto any application of the fund. The effect of this pre- posterous judgment is that even if Egypt were invaded any one Commissioner could forbid the application of its surplus ievenne to the repulse of the invader. As we pleaded before the Court we cannot deny its jurisdiction, and the British Govern- ment must therefore advance the £500,000 withdrawn, and hold Dongola until the money is repaid. Indeed Lord Cromer states that this has already been decided on. The French papers are, of course, exultant at this "defeat of the British," but they may find that the victory is unfortunate for them. They compel the British Government to insist that their pro. tectorate of Egypt shall be placed, at least during the period of occupation, upon some reasonable basis. Full responsi- bility for the safety of the Valley, with no power over its military expenditure, is not reasonable.
Previous page
