THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 25th JANUARY, 1892.

Southland Times, Issue 11952, 25 January 1892, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 25th JANUARY, 1892.

A vbbt short time since it was stated in a cablegram tbat the Porte was disposed to enter into a direct agreement with England regarding Egypt ; and a few days later another cablegram announced the death of the Khedive. What effect this somewhat startling event may have on the disposition of the Turkish Government in the matter in question remains to be seen, though tbere are already, quite unexpectedly, indications of a more friendly attitude towards Great Britain ; but it may be at once assumed that it will tighten tbe grasp in which tbe latter nation has for some years held t^e land of the Pharaohs. Ever since the suppression of Arabi' revolt, the British Government bas been plied with demands for the evacuation of the country. These demands have come ostensibly from the Sultan, and it is only natural that h's Turkish Majesty should experience occasional gusts of indignation at the thought of a principality of which be is Suzerain beiDg practically in tbe possession of a foreign Power. " What business have the English to control my vassal and manage his affairs ? " we may imagine the Sultan asking himself as he throws a glance in the direction of Egypt. And yet so long as be receives his tribute money from tbe Khedive, it is probable that the Leader of tbe Armies of the Faithful would digest his discontent but for the instigation of the French and Russian (-Jovernmpnts. Tbe Sultan can scarcely help knowing that he is the representative of a dying cause, that Egypt is virtually independent of his authority, and that the easiest way of passing off the stage is the best But the two Governments just named will i not let the Sick Man alone. Not that either of them cares a straw for him Russia would shove bim into the Hellespont with tbe greatest pleasure, nor would France object, provided she were promised a satisfactory share of his effects. Both ol them however have a grudge against England, and they ac cordingly make periodical attempts at galvanising tbe Sultan into a kind of mechanical activity for the purpose of embarrassing the owner of India and occupier of Egypt. Hence the constantly repeated demands of the Porte for the evacuation of tbe latter country. France is still enraged with herself for refusing to share with Great Britain the cost and responsibility of quelling tbe insurrection headed by Arabi, as she thereby lost her share in tbe Dual Control, and Russa is always seeking to outwit or hamper her rival in the East. The British Government, weary of the Porte's importunity, two or three years ago sent Sir H. Drummond Wolff to Constantinople for the express purpose of negotiating a treaty for the evacuation of' Egypt. Up to a certain point the negotiations were carried on with the utmost success. Sir Henry had actually arranged an agreement with tbe Porte, tbat is, with the Sultans Ministers, and all that remained to do was the signing of the treaty by his Majesty. Neither the Commissioner nor the Turkish Government anticipated failure in that quarter. Day after day some member or other of the British Cabinet informed Parliament that the concluding of the treaty was hourly expected. But no such news ever came, notwithstanding that the German Ambassador gave the strongest support to Sir H. D. Wolff and the Sultan's own Ministers, imploring bis Majesty with almost passionate earnestness to ratify the treaty. Franoe and Russia were, as usual, behind the scenes, and as the engagement to withdraw from Egypt was not unconditional enough to please these Powers,the Sultan was forbidden to sign it, under actual threats of war and of the dismemberment of his empire. The Commissioner, after waiting more than a week in vain for the expected signature, took his departure frora Constantinople, and the British are, so to speak, more firmly intrenched behind the Pyramids than ever Her Majesty's Government have at any rate held much more decided language on the subject of evacuation since the failure of Mr H. D. Wolffs mission. Lord Salisbury has repeatedly asserted that they would not withdraw till Egypt was in a position to maintain order at home and protect herself against foreign aggression. Tbis was tantamount to saying that they had no intention of withdrawing at all, and tbe course of events would seem to point to the conclusion that Egypt is destined to become part and parcel of the British Empire. What may be called the Palmerstonian policy — i.e., the maintaining of the integrity of Turkey as a bulwark against Russian aggression — has been practically abandoned. Tbe safety of Constan tinople is no longer supposed to be in England's keeping. Probably no British Government would allow Russia to seize that ancient capital— one of the world's centres, if we may so say — .without a struggle, but the idea of bolstering up the authority of the Turk has certainly lost its dominancy. Constantinople is besides more likely to become the capital of a Graeco- Slavic State than to fall into the bands of the Czar. But whatever becomes of that city, it is manifestly necessary for Great Britain to keep an open highway to her eastern possessions. The statement of Sir Charles Dilke, recently cabled out, that England might yery well withdraw from Egypt and trust to the Cape of Good Hope route sounds like the v. riest midsummer madness. In these days the shortest route is absolutely indispensab'e. To give up tho Suez Canal and the Ked Sea would be much the same thing as giving np India. Whatever, then, may be the fate of Constantinople, it may be taken for granted that England would fight with all the strength of the Empire rather than allow any foreign Power to get possession of Alexandria. That city occupies a more important sjte even than the capital of the old Byaantine Empire, being the meeting place, as it were, of tbe three greit divisions of the Old World — a site marked out by the prophetic eye of

tbe famous soldier and statesman after whom tbe city is called, if not for tbe seat of Kmpire, at least for the emporium of tbe nations. England raay in fact, be said to have retired from the Bosphorus upon the Nile, and the assertion may be ventured that all the world would not dislodge her from that position. The vapouring of the French press will certainly have no effect. We have said that the Khedive's death seems to have drawn the Sultan closer to his old ally and protector. One of the latest cablegrams at any rate says that the Earopean press iufer tbat the eagerness shown by his Majesty to recognise Prince Abbas as Khedive evidences a desire on bis part to avoid being harassed by France or Russia. The French papers in consequence betray the wildest disappointment, and are again clamouring for the evacuation of Egypt. It is accordingly not impossible that England and Turkey may come after all to a " direct agreement" with regard to Egypt : tbat is, an agreement irrespective of tbe wishes of the two Powers that have all along thrown every pos Bible obstacle in the way of such a settlement of the Egyptian question. It was announced too not many days ago by cable that the reception of the young Khedive at Cairo by the British troops had strongly impressed Europe with the conviction that tbe occupation of his Country by Btitain would remain undis^ turbed. On some otber occasion we m.y say something about the extraordinary benefits conferred on Egypt by the British occupation, and of the admirable manner in which the lamented Tewfik seconded the efforts of Her Majesty's Government to establish something like order, security, and justice in bis unhappy country.