OBITUARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4461, 31 January 1917, Page 5

OBITUARY.

LORD CROMER. (Reuter’s Telegram.) (Received Jan. 30, 8.55 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 30. The death is announced of Lord Cromer. He was ill for some time, and was unable latterly to preside over the Dardantdles Commission. He died from a stroke late yesterday.

The late Lord Cromer was British Consul-General at Cairo from 1903 to 1907, and was one of the makers of modern Egypt. His connection with the Land of the Pharao’bs began in 1877, when he was appointed English commissioner on the Egyptian debt. The country was then virtually on the verge of bankruptcy, and Major Baring, as he. was known then, devoted himself to the work of financial regeneration for two years, during which time he carried into effect a number of useful reforms. In 1860 lie was appointed by Mr. Gladstone as financial member of Ee Viceroy of India’s Council, but three years later he returned to Cairo as British Agent and Consul-General, with the additional rank of Minister plenipotentiary in the diplomatic service. Under his rule Egypt became transformed into a well-administered and prosperous country. The record of his nine years of arduous labor is one of which all Englishmen may be justly proud. 'The contrast between Egypt to-day and Egypt as he found it and the enhanced reputation of Britain in matters Egyptian are the measures of the signal -services 'he rendered. He also saw the‘Soudan restored to civilisation. In 1892, Queen Victoria raised him to the peerage as Baron Cromer, and he was made a viscount seven years later and received an earldom in 1901. In 1906 he received the Order of Merit. He resigned his post in 1907, being succeeded by Sir Eldon Gorst. Since that date he has taken an active part in British politics as a Unionist freetrader. He was last year appointed chairman of the Royal Commission inquiry into the Dardanelles campaign, and he was engaged in this work at the time of his deat’.i.