ENGLAND IN EGYPT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 90, 14 April 1908, Page 4

ENGLAND IN EGYPT.

No one at all fariiiliaT with the state of affairs in Egypt arid the magnificent achievements of British rule there will be inclined to attach much'importance to the protest just made by the Egyptian Nationalists against British interference between the Khedive and his subjects; It is true that- the Nationalists, form, a vigorous and, within certain narrow limits, an influential section of the people, and they have displayed the most inveterate animosity to the foreign-occu-pation. But their crusade against Lord Cromer was organised chiefly by one man, the notorious agitator, Mus'tapha Kamel, and with his death we may expect the movement that he directed to reach a natural close. Apart from, the obstinate refusal Of the half-educated Nationalists to be content with anything less than the right of self-government, we have to allow for-the influence exercised in Alexandria arid Cairo by the emissaries of the Sultan, who" has not yet reconciled himself to'the loss of his richest province; and it' is even alleged in some quarters that German diplomacy' is at work, utilising Turkish agents and stirring up discontent against British rule. There is no doubt that Germany is the predominant Power just now at Constantinople, and on- several occasions German official organs have raised the question of the British occupation of Egypt in a rather menacing, tone. But it -would be- a mistake to exaggerate the scope of the popular discontent in Egypt, or to overestimate' the force of the Nationalist movement. No civilised Power that takes up " the white ■ rnan ? s burden" in a s'emi-barbarou* country can expect that its efforts will be always appreciated. But tbotigh there is always likely to be some sort of agitation against foreign supremacy in Egypt, the bulk of the people are well content with' the destiny that gave them Lord Cromer as their virtual lord and master. When the great Pro-Consul left Egypt the Prime Minister said to hirri: " Let v's ask you to ; allow us always to consider yoii as one of ourselves." This was the spirit in which Lord Crohrcf himself had approached his great task; arid hot even "the Voiceless niilliohs of the fellaheen"—with all tnelfOrientalself-re-pression and aloofness from European of thought — could have' remained altogether unmoved by the courage, the rigid honesty and the fearless devotion to duty that Lord Cromer displayed. And while England can send out successors worthy to take the plaice Of such a" man as administrators of her dependencies, she has little to fear from the ceaseless agitation for national independence and autonomy which makes itself heard from time .to .fame?' today :airi'orig all' the " sullfen _silent peoples;" who-make'irp--s<> large a portion of her great Empire.