SIR ELDON GORST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1178, 13 July 1911, Page 5

SIR ELDON GORST.

RETIRED PROCONSUL DEAD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. July 13, 0.20 a.m.) London .July 12. Tho death is announced of Sir Eldon Gorst, K.C.13., lately British Resident in Egypt, who was invalided homo some months ago suffering from paralysis, supervening on a sunstroke received while shark-fishing in Egypt. A DISTINGUISHED CAR EE I?. The late Sir Eldon Gorst, K.C.8., was appointed British, Agent and ConsulGeneral in Egypt, in succession to Lord Cromer, in May, 1907. Ho as lilty years of age, was born in New Zealand during his father's slay in the. W'aikato, and was culled to tho Bar in ISBI. Entering the Diplomatic Service as an Attache in the following year, he was appointed to Cairo in September, ISSC. Promoted successively to tho rank of a Third Secretary (1S87), a Second Secretary (18D2), and a Secretary of Legation (191)1), ho served under the Egyptian Government as Adviser to the Ministry of tho Interior (1801) and as Financial Adviser (1898), while in 1904 ho acted as Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Tho lato British Agent was the son of Sir John Gorst, and, in appearance,, was rather short in stature, with siwhtly stooping shoulders. Ho was compelled by short sight to wear eyeglasses on almost all occasions. He married, at the age of forty-two, Miss Evelyn Rudd, daughter of Mr. Charles Rudd, a South African financier. He took np his great position in Egypt under the most favourable auspices. His administration was, however, most vigorously criticised. Nor havo liis critics been of one party only. "Blackwood" and the "Saturday Review," Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, and the "Nationalist" Press and politicians in Egypt alike found cause for sharp complaint. "Nationalist" attacks, it is true, were inevitable whatever the British Agent did; but the other criticisms wero from quarters curiously different. "Viator," in the "Daily Mail," said recently"When 'Johnny Gorsf—for that was his familiar and significant name before ho changed it in order to avoid confusion with his father—went to Cairo at the age of twenty-six, a great career was assured for him. The young attache had industry and capacity that speedily gave him ample and accurato knowledge, and carried him step by step to some of the highest positions in t'ht land, lord Cromer, a shrewd judge and cautious to the choice of his instruments, made him Adviser to the Ministry of the Interior, and afterwards Financial Adviser. In botli these offices Sir Eldou Gorst' proved himself worthy of tho confidence of the great Pro-Consul. He made himself thoroughly familiar with tho country and the people. He learned not only to speak Arabic, but to write and read it like a native. His social qualities and cosmopolitan tastes made him very popular,outside purely official circles, ami tho Khedive found in him a relief from the 'overbearing Baring," as Lord Cromer was sometimes called by men who came in conflict with him. The Khedive and Sir Eldon Gorst became fast friends, and much was expected from this friendship when Lord Cromer retired and gave place to Sir Eldon Gorst'.

Of the position in Egypt as it was shortly before he leit it, Sir Eldon Gorst said in his last report :—"The task of one race in controlling tho destinies of another race of entirely different qualities is one of ext'remo delicacy and complexity, and cannot unfortunately bo solved by copybook maxims and high-sounding platitudes. . . . To abandon the present system because a small section of the population have taken up an attitude of violent hostility (o tho occupation, and to rule the Egyptians with a rod of iron, as has been suggested by some whose knowledge of the country and of tho difficulties of tho situation was, 'to say the least, extremely superficial, would be a sad confossion of failure. . . . Upon t'ho maintenance and development of sympathetic relations, between the agents of the occupying Power and the 'Egyptians'' depends the ultimate realisation of the great undertaking upon which Great Britain entered over a quarter of a century ago."