The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1892.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9648, 13 February 1892, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1892 .

The opening of the Imperial Parliament is remarkable principally for the plain speaking of the Prime Minister about Egypt. What he said, when freely translated, simply means that as the Egyptians will never be able to govern themselves, the British occupation of their country will never, with the consent of the Tory Party, be ended. In plain English, the Tory policy is to make Egypt an integral portion of the British Empire. The mission of the Anglo-Saxon is to get possession of the best portions of the earth, and having got them to hold them by every means in his power. It is a frank admission none the less remarkable from the fact that we have to look between the lines for it. It is used, of course, to cover the theory that the best road to India is by the Suez Canal, Against that theory it is contended by many competent authorities that the route by the Cape of G-ood Hope has been restored to its old pre-eminence by the new improvements in marine architecture and engine - building. They declare that the time is about the same on the Cape route, which is free from the dangers of the Mediterranean, as it is upon the canal route. Moreover, they urge, canals are not safe communication routes at all, because (1) a very slight damage is sufficient to stop the traffic entirely, probably so long as war lasts; and (2)' it is the easiest thing for a small force to operate against a long canal for the purpose of inflicting this damage. The other view is that the Cape route remains open in any case, and that the Suez Canal in the hands of another Power must possess against us all the advantages which the canal, were it in our hands, would give us. Moreover, in the course of time the uniforms may be in permanent occupation of Syria and Palestine as integral portions of a new Byzantine Empire, with the Czar on the seat of the last of the Greeks expelled by the unspeakable Turk. In that " case the Canal would be, with the assistance of the Power in occupation of Egypt, absolutely safe for the passage of Russian ships and troops, and munitions of war moving to the assault of our Indian Empire, With considerable foresight Lord Salisbury has declared that we are there, and we remain. ’ It is a policy pretty sure to be popular in Great Britain. Upon that question a few days will give us ample imformation, and possibly show a conversion of the Liberal Party towards the wider Imperial views on the subject of Egypt.