A MANLY PROTEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3110, 21 March 1883, Page 3

A MANLY PROTEST.

The action of the British Government in quelling the rebellion in Egypt has been criticised in a hostile spirit in an unexpected quarter. Lord Charles Beresford, who has been eulogised for the gallant part he took in the bombardof Alexandria, has written a long letter to the “ Times ” in defence of Arabi Bey, in which he declares that the “ National” movement bad the sympathy, of many of the officers of the invading forces, as it had the sympathy of the Egyptian people. Lord Beresford gives a summary of recent events in Egypt, and thinks the question may be asked “ Where was England’s justifiestion for the late military operations _ in Egypt?—operations which many think were undertaken against a party who were merely agitating for reforms, the necessity for which is allowed on all sides. Can the justification be that it was necessary to continue the policy inaugurated by the late Government, which aimed at securing a stronger hold of the Suez Canal ? If so, why did not England put this forward as her reason for hostilities, instead of stating that she was only quelling a rebellion, the causes of which she did not pause to fairly inquire into? If the late hostilities were not undertaken to support the policy referred to, it must surely be thought that, without sufficient cause, England drifted into a war as arbitrary as unnecessary.” The “Figaro,” in reference to the letter, observes: “ To say the least of it it was indiscreet. Not that he has not a right to possess his personal opinion as to the advisability of the Egyptian war, but certainly it would have been better had the commander of H.M. gunboat Condor refrained from insinuating' that the whole of our interference in Egypt has been a mistake; that is the view my Lords take of it, according to report. If it is becoming for Lord Charles Beresford to criticise in the papers the war he helped so pluckily to wage, it is clear that every other naval officer engaged at Alexandria may undertake the same functions. Imagine the result of all of them writing to the “ Times ” on the same day.