England and Egypt.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2368, 28 December 1898, Page 2

England and Egypt.

Referring to the future action of England in Egypt, Lord Salisbury said on November 9th It is quite clear that if some of my audience were at the head of affairs what would be done. But I am sorry to say for the present that X can- \

not rise to the height of their aspirations. (Laughter.) Ido not say that if we were forced by others into a position which we do not now occupy I do not venture to prophesy what would take place, but are sufficiently satisfied with the state of ,things as they exist at present, and we do not think that any cause has arisen for any effort at present to modify it on our part. Ido not say that it is entirely comfortable—l do not say occasional friction will not arise, but I say that looking at matters all round, and considering the feelings of other people as well as ourselves—l say we think that we can very reasonably rest for the present with the state of things which now exist. But do not let me be understood by that to say that I consider the events of the last three months have had no effect upon our position in Egypt. (Cheers.) That is impossible to say. A stricken field is one of the stages upon 1 the road of history, and the state of things that existed before that stricken field can be the same as exists afterwards. The victory of Lord Wolaeley at Tel-el-Kebir was the beginning of our modern Anglo-Egyptian history. Our position in Egypt after he struck that blow was very different from what it had been before. The same thing has happened with Lord Kitchener’s victory at Omdurman. Our position in Egypt after he struck that blow is not the same as it was before. However, I earnestly hope that'no circumstances will arise which will make it necessary to modify in any degree our position in Egypt, for lam convinced that the world will not get on so peaceably as it does now if such necessity were imposed upon us.