On Thursday the Foreign Office issued Lord Cromer's Annual Report
on the affairs of Egypt and the Soudan. We hope to deal at length with the subject next week, but may mention here the proof afforded that Lord Cromer is receiving the loyal support of the Home Government. That proof is to be found in the following statement, contained in a letter from Lord Cromer dated February, 1907
"I am now authorised by his Majesty's Government to state that they recognise that the maintenance and development of such reforms as have hitherto been effected in Egypt depend upon the British occupation. This consideration will apply with equal strength to any changes effected in the regime of the Capitulations. His Majesty's Government therefore wish it to be understood that there is no reason for allowing the prospect of any modifications in that regime to be prejudiced by the existence of any doubt as to the continuance of the British occupation of
the country." ■
This formal declaration of British intentions is one of the most important made in recent years. It shows the determina- tion of the present Government to maintain a continuity, of policy in Egypt.
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