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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6423, 19 June 1882, Page 4

I>- Oriental politics it is the unexpected that y generally happens, and so it may turn out l ~ that the Egyptian Question will be settled after all without any very desperate mea- !•- stires having to bo resorted to. Eat at e present there seems little prospect of a y pacific solution of the existing difficulty, e The whol - business ivears a decidedly ugly ■■ and ominous aspect. Our cablegrams this . morning afford no hope whatever of an amicable settlement of the crisis. On the e contrary, their tenor is, if anything, more t bellicose than ever. The Channel Squadron has been ordered to join the Mediterranean fleet, and troops are beiDg shipped at llalta \ to be in readiness for any contingencies that may possibly arise in Egypt. The panic e among the European residents in that conn- >. try is increasing, and at Alexandria they arc taking refugy on board the mercliantmea ' and men of war in the harbour. Ttii» " would appear to indicate that fears of e a general native rising are entertained, and t that there is no confidence in the soundness , j of the Egyptian army, or its ability to maintain order. What the upshot of the present state of things will be it is impossible to say. I Amidst the gloom and uncertainty which i[ prevail one thing, however, is certain. Engjj land is making naval and military preparations in view of the necessity arising for II armed intervention. Both political parties l- at Home are agreed that our interests in the C Suez Canal must be maintained, coine what u may, and the present Government are giving. . indications that they will not shirk their duty should things come to th<" worst. In the meantime the European Powers are said q to be using their efforts to bring about a rl settlement of the difficulty, bat as they are - not likely to go beyond the use of "moral a force" we need not hope too much from their l' action. The Sultan has refused to hold a S Conference for the consideration of terms of s settlement, and it alleged that Germany and Austria are urging the Khedive to the course 3 he is at present pursuing. i* .