THE EGYPTIAN RISING.
WE have received the telegram given in full below from a body of Copts—who we trust and believe are not what they hold themselves out to be ; i.e., the Representa- tives of the native Christians of Egypt. We publish it not because it makes any corrections of inaccurate state- ments, or because it discloses new facts, for it does neither, but only because of our rule to let the other side speak wherever possible. The complaints as regards the corre- spondents of the Times and the Daily Telegraph are, we believe, entirely unfounded. We feel sure that the able journalists in question will understand that we have no sympathy whatever with this unjust attack on their dis- cretion and sense of truth and justice. We publish these aspersions to support the correspondents in question, and not to detract from their influence.
We do not believe that the mass of the Copts have any sympathy with the wave of Moslem fanaticism, largely inspired by German money and German intrigue, which has swept over Egypt. They cannot so quickly have forgotten what was the treatment they received at the hands of the Turks before the British Occupation. Under the Cromer regime, for the first time in recorded history, the Copts acquired liberty for life and limb, body and soul. Lord Cromer actually brought into being a Coptic Prime Minister. The Eastern is proverbially ungrateful, or at any rate forgetful, but we shall want better proof than this telegram that the Copts have achieved a record in the matter of stabbing in the back the Power that rescued them from the foulest of oppressions. We do not then admit that the signatories of the telegram are true spokes- men for the native Christians of Eypt.
The " gush " in the telegram about " Justice," " Progress," " Human Welfare," " Liberalism," " British Traditions," and the like is of course the merest clap-trap, and will deceive no one who has any knowledge of the East. In any case, we cannot forget that when translated into action these phrases appear to mean beating unarmed English officers and soldiers to death with clubs, murdering Armenian men, and outraging Armenian women.
These self-elected Coptic leaders apparently still think that the British are going to be driven out of Egypt, and that they will then be rewarded by having their new, or rather old, masters restored I They are mistaken. We shall not leave Egypt to the tender mercies of either the Young Turks or the Old Turks, Enver Bey or Abbas Hilmi—or even to a mixed chaos compounded of the Copt, the Jew, and the effendi of " pure Fellaheen stock," and degraded Beduin of the Desert fringes of the Nile Valley. We shall not revenge ourselves on the Egyptians. That is not the British way. We shall govern as liberally and as whole-heartedly in the interests of the governed as before, but we shall not make the beating of the heads of British soldiers into a jelly a ground for giving the various peoples
of Egypt—about thirty species—over to the incredible miseries of Oriental Bolshevism. The British people talk foolishly very often, we had almost said usually. They seldom act except with strength, honour, and common- sense. Our full Democracy is going to be just as sound as the old form of government in ruling our curious and unique type of Imperialism. The labels may be different, but the wine will be exactly the same. Let there be no mistake on this matter. If there is, very many persons
of Asiatic and African birth will find themselves greatly deceived. It is our mental not our physical habits that
are slovenly. "Cairo, May 20%. Undersigned representative Copts in interest veracity and formation sound public opinion England, strongly protest reference Copts Times corrtspondent, first April, published twenty-first, page twelve, also Daily Tel thirtieth April, and British Press generally same misleading, incorrect fact, and containing mischievous insinuations insulting our community. We declare firstly Copts never asked nor expected special favours from British owing common Christianity as suggested by correspondent ; secondly there is complete solidarity national aspirations. All Egyptian Copts always foreshadowed and preached nationalism of present truly national type formerly expounded by Coptic leader, late Akhnoukh Fanous, in divers speeches and articles native Press since 1898, and in political programme published British Press, Standard and Daily Telegraph, September eighth, 1908, and Douglas Sladen's Egypt and English, pages 142-144, also Manchester Guardian, twenty-third April, 1907, explaining real Egyptian nationalism and foreshadowing present movement, which is troll, national, non-religious, progressive, and not even primarily anti-British. Also in Coptic Press, Misr, 1895. Copts' participation present movement natural because they share general revival national self-consciousness, mass countrymen being same ethnologically in culture and national traditions. Refer Weigall'a Treasury Ancient Egypt, is eight and twenty-eight, and Cromer, as British public Is entitled have correct information regarding such vital matters affecting British policy and ultimately itself. We are cabling you present statement in fair play public and justice to ourselves, hoping thus you would not fail correct aforesaid misleading insinuations regarding Copts and by aid your wide publicity help public opinion better understand real nature, vitality and magnitude present national revival Egypt, appreciate its merits as conducive to desired progress, which can only react favourably on British interests and human welfare generally, while ill-advised, unreasonable opposition could only be unjust to Egyptians whom British always professed befriend and had helped progress during past generation, and disastrous British themselves. Surely our mutual economic interests and liberalism British traditions should ensure sympathy British public for our revival and thus peacefully and generously remove obstacles now obstructing our progress towards common ideal national independence in strict abeordance with and fulfilment of British professed policy and formal engagements reiterated by successive Liberal and Unionist Governments alike since 1882. Egyptians generally therefore still trust that inherent native honesty British public will ultimately prevail and ensure fulfilment those national engagements taken in their name by British statesmen towards Egyptian people, who implicitly trusting them, remained loyal throughout war and contributed quota men and treasure towards victory. Further, our national claims legitimate strictly conforming Allies professed prin- ciples, and we consider their timely generous recognition by British highly conducive pacification Eastern unrest generally, providing concrete example British liberalism and sincerity professed ideals, thus reinspiring confidence, restoring morel prestige hitherto corner-stone British Empire. Finally, goineral contentment which can only result from equitable settlement and recognition legitimate aspirations is only solid foundation and sure guarantee world peace.—Landowners: Kamel Awed, President Tewfik Society ; Louis Fanous, Neguib Wissa, Nessim Khalil, Scandar Luca, Samaan Ghabrial, Jean Abutakkia,Ymakiel Migally, Iscandar Missiha, Sidra Ibeid, Oirgis Mikhail, Abdm Malay, Alfred Wissa. Lawyers : Assad Magar, Azer Goubra', Attie Risgallah, Tewfik Girdis, Grant Iscandar, Neguib Wasfi, Adli Iscandar, Massif Eltoukhi, Halim Ibrahim, Tadros Claudius. Doctors : Kudwani Tewfik, Wasfi Sadk, Miftah Zaki, Bishara Amin, Guindi Ibrahim, Fahmy. Merchants : Mina Mingarins, Kamil Nasrat, Seandar Stofanos, Hanna Kassabeg. Journalists: Tadros Chenouda, Guindi Ibrahim, Tewfik Amain, Shaker Elmangabadi. Priests and Preachers : 001111110131 Boutros, Patriarchal Secretary ; Gommos Shenouda, Abdelenalek Gommos, Mattias Girgious, Habib Guirguis. Headmaster, Clerical School; Farah Girgis."*
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