THE QUEEN AND THE SOUDAN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4289, 23 February 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN AND THE SOUDAN

SPEECH BY LORD GROMEB. ' Addressing the Sheikhs and notables of the Soudan at Khartoum, before the death of the Queen, Lord Cromer said ne had received the special command of his august sovereign, who in other countries ruled over many millions of their co-religionists, to express to them the great interest her Maesty took in their welfare. He was about,_ in her Majesty’s name, to confer a British decoration on one of the most distinguished Moslem inhabitants of the Soudan, whose name had been brought to her Majesty’s notice by the Governor-General. '“Continuing, Lord Cromer said much progress had ’been made since he last visited them. The pledge which he gave them then, that their religion and religious customs would he respected, was fully redeemed. Law Courts were established. The land Tax was assessed at a low rate, and had, he hoped and believed, been collected without illegal exactions. The railway had been brought up to Khartoum, In fact, lie trusted they had been able to convince themselves that their new rulers —whether British or Egyptian, be made no difference between them, for they worked in complete harmony with each other—not only possessed a power incomparably greater than that of their predecessors, but were also animated by a spirit of justice and a desire to benefit the entire population which were wholly wanting during the days of Dervish tyranny. One of the chief requirements of the country was that communications should he improved, but the burdens on 'the Soudanese people should be kept as low as circumstances permitted. Low taxation must bo placed before every other interest. The first thing to do before entertaining any proposals for extensions was to get the existing railways into proper order, and for this he was informed, on the highest technical authority, that a veiy considerable sum of money would bo required. He was told that complaints, in some degree well founded, had been made by the native population that the amount of European supervision was inadequate. Military officers in civil employ had performed their very arduous duties in a manner which could not be too highly praised. But they required assistance. A few carefully selected British civilians had, therefore, been appointed. They would he under the orders of the existing Moudirs, and they would, it was hoped, form the nucleus of a future Soudan Civil Service. It was also proposed to appoint a competent hydraulic engineer, who would in due time be able to make some well - considered recommendations, with a view to improving the system of irrigation in some parts o'f the country, notably on the Blue Xile. In conclusion, Lord Cromer asked the notables by every means in their power to second the efforts which Sir Reginald Wingate, the local representative, both of the Queen and of the Khedive, and the able officers serving under him, were making to improve the moral and material condition of the country.