THE KHEDIVE AND THE CAIRO RIOTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1465, 2 June 1879, Page 3

THE KHEDIVE AND THE CAIRO RIOTS.

(Poll Mall Budget.) When we first heard of the riots at' Cairo, we were inclined to think them of small importance. Subsequent reports, however, and a little reflection thereon, somewhat modify our viewß. What is the probability that a military e'meute should break out m Cairo, without some understanding that it would be rather agreeable than otherwise to the Khedive himself, the lord of all things Egyptian ? Rioting m the streets of Alexandria, an outcry from the mixed population of that city, would have been comprehensible enough without deep inquiry. But a military riot m Cairo is quite another matter ; and if it is suspected that the rioters believed with more or less reason that the Khedive would smile upon their proceedings, his Highness's general conduct and character certainly do not discountenance the suspicion. Nor do these' reports of the Khedive's sallying out to disperse the mob do away with the suspicion. by any means ; while as for his declaration m the Council of Ministers that "he would not be answerable for the public safety;" or, as another report has it, that " he could not guarantee the continued tranquillity of the Arab population," if Nubar Pasha remained m office, it is so ridiculous a figment as to place his whole conduct m the worse possible light. It is not only an absurdity but a threat ; and a threat of extreme audacity. What it comes to is," that it is quite easy for him, to whom every man m Egypt pays unquestionable obedience, to cast oil upon this little insurrectionary flame, and yet not allow his hand to be seen ; and that rioting may certainly be expected to spread unless he has his own way m the Council. Of course it is to the last degree absurd to talk of a spontaneous rising against Nubar Pasha' ; and the absurdity of it makes the Khedive's language so significant. But whether he will be allowed to introduce into Egypt the South American manner of influencing the conduct of affairs may be" doubted. For ourselves, we are inclined to say positively that he will not be able to do so. If the Khedive had reason to be dissatisfied with Nubar Pasha — good reasons, we mean — there could not have been much difficulty m displacing him m a regular and orderly way. The presumption is that there could have been no reason, or the Khedive would not have resorted to the extremely rough insinuation that if Nubar did not go he would abstain from ÜBing his own absolute authority m queuing a riot ; abstinence being plain encouragement tinder the circumstances. It seems to <ia impossible but that this little episode should be sharply examined by the Governments of

England and France. Those Governments can hardly insist, under any circumstances, upon the restoration of Nubar Pasha to office ; but what they will insist upon without dou'ut is, that their own efforts to remedy the mischiefs of the Khedive's rule shall not be undone m this violent manner. And it seems only reasonable to anticipate that the Sultan may have something to say to his vassal on the subject. It is rather too absurd for the Porte to be calling out to the Governments of England and France for Commissioners to assist m settling its financial difficulties, while m Egypt similar officials are being terrorised by a mob which evidently supposes that its conduct pleases, and perhaps serves, the Khedive. ■