The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 27th OCTOBER, 1886.

Southland Times, Issue 9359, 27 October 1886, Page 2

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 27th OCTOBER, 1886.

The most startling piece of news recently cabled from Home is to the effect that the Porte had ■♦ demanded from tbe British Government tbe date of the evacuation of Egypt." It was added that Russia and France were supporting Turkey in this step, but that Germany and Italy had declined to interfere. This reads almost; like an elephantine jest. There was a time — two or three years ago — when tbe French Government made very 'frequent inquiries as to when the British occupation of Egypt would cease, but though the Gladstone Ministry, while never naming a precise date, always held language consistent with the supposition that they intended to withdraw at aome more or less distant time, nobody even then seriously doubted that the occupation would sooner or later develop into annexation, or at the very least into a protectorate, Tins was after the termination of the dual coutiol, which was practically annulled when the French refused to take part in the campaign against Arabi, but whom they (subsequently used every effort to restore. Tbe Gladstone Government however stood firm. They even went the length of very unceremoniously putting an end to a Confeience of the Powers which had met in London to discuss the matter. The French had forfeited their joint share in the management of the affairs (chiefly financial) of Egypt, and it ought to be remembered to the credit of Mr Gladstone and Earl Granville that they took good care to prevent them from recovering it. But ever since the French Government, as was only to be expected, have had a deep grudge against England. They have never ceased to show bow much they regretted their lost power in the land of tbe Pyramsd3. or how much they resented the sole predominance of Great Britain. For a good while indeed we have heard very little about the withdrawal of the hnglish troops, the French having apparently become convinced that it was of little use to keep on nagging at their neighbours, as they bad done for a considerable time. It is only a few weeks, too, since some British minister or undersecretary stated quite bluntly, we forget in what connection, that Egypt must be occupied for an altogether indefinite period — which was tantamount to saying that it was virtually placed under the permanent pro? tectqrate of Mr John Bull, It is how as certain as anything of the kind can be that England will never withdraw from Egypt. The kind of semi-senti-mentaj interest which France has always manifested Jn £hat pountry since the days of the First Empire lyill haye to dwindle into a sentimental regpel. England is in Egypt, and there she js evidently determined to remain, happen what may in Eastern Europe. Hence tbe somewhat startling character of the cablegram to which we have referred. The fching, we say, looks extremely like a grim joke. England has shown a decided aversion to Russian interference in Bulgaria, and she has, at the 7 instance of som.e of her colonies, been asking France to withdraw from "the New Hebrides ; and now Russia and Prance lay tbeir heads together^and pereaade the (Jrand Turk, by what fair and false projpjses we m only guess, to ask Engl*ucl ,

when she intends to pack up her traps and take her departure from Egypt! Such at least is the news received by the Press Association. Jieuter, strange to say, has taken no notice of it, and it is just possible that what we have ventured to characterise as a grim joke may turn out to be merely one of the passing rumours set afloat 'by the apparently critical nature of the Kuropean situation; at the present time. But just a3 we are going to press we have received a Reuter telegram which states that the deductions on the coupons are about to be repaid (the British Government some time ago forced the bondholders to accept, provisionally at least, a lower rate of interest), and that the chief prelext of the French for attempting to interfere in Egyptian affairs will thus be removed. j ( ; j j |