LIBERALS AND EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 7

LIBERALS AND EGYPT

RECALL OF SIR ELDON GORST. RUMOURED ABANDONMENT OF HIS I'OLiCY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 24. The "Manchester (juardian" protests '• with regard to the rumour that Sir Arthur llardinge, British Minister in > Brussels, is to replace Sir Eklon Gorsl, i as British Agent and Cunsul-Gcner.il in Egypt. Tho "Guardian" adds:—"This is a sign that tho Gorst policy will lie ! abandoned, and proves a victory for an , intrigue of which Mr. Roosevelt was i the instrument." BITTER ATTACK BY "SATURDAY REVIEW." The "Saturday IJeview"_ of April 1C printed somo amazing stories concerning , Sir Eldon Gorsl. it alleged that he had given a banquet in honour of the Gorman Consul and in celebration of a Budget ' speech by Sir. Lloyd-George; at which ■ banquet, 'within tho hearing of most of the notables of Cairo then and there present, ho informed his German friend that the British were not a fighting nation, and must soon lose command of I he sea, v.-hon all her colonies and Oriental possessions wonld become independent. Sir Eldon Gorst, the "Saturday Review" continued, "consistently refrains from attending religious worship, openly professes atheism, and speaks contemptuously of the religion of his fellow countrymen. When the Duke of Connaught reached Cairo, Sir Eldon Gorst received him in a travelling cap and a rough motoring dross. It is true this costuiuo was appropriate to the vehicle which conveyed him to the station, for he came on' a motor bicycle. Could anything be more discourteous, on the ono side, to the brother of the Sovereign, or more foolish on the other, if we consider tho necessity of maintaining somo dignity in the eye's of a race which sets so much store "on appearances?" The article ended by stating that Sir Eldon Gorst's recall was imperative. The attacks of the "Saturday Review" were supported in part by the "Pall Mall Gazette," but the "Spectator" said:— "We know these attacks to be baseless fabrications, deserving the contempt and. condemnation of all good citizens, nay, of all honourable and fair-minded mci\ and we can only express our bewildered amazement that any decent newspaper should . have been found to print them. ... To assail a man ns Sir Eldon Gorst has been assailed is to do a cruel.wrong to an individual, and to impede the due carrying out of our Imperial task. As long as the British Agent-General is aitnuked in the way in which he is being attacked, all decent men and true Imperialists should rally to his support." Speaking at tho Guildhall, London, at the end of May, Mr. Roosevelt said: "Great Britain has given Egypt the best government if. has had for two thousand years, but recent events, especially in connection with the assassination of the Egyptian Premier, Boutros Pasha, showed that in certain vital points you have erred. Weakness, timidity, and sentimentality whore fanatical peoples are concerned may cause more harm than violence and injustice. Sentimentality is tho most broken reed whereon righteousness can lean. The Nationalists are neither desirous nor capable of guaranteeing primary ju'sticc. ft is cither Britain's right, or it is not her right, to bo in Egypt to establish order. If it i 3 not she should quit."