The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1879.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3435, 15 April 1879, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1879.

From recent telegrams there is good ground for fear that Egypt is destined to be the next agitating cause of political disturbance. In November last we published a necessarily brief resume of the principal events leading up to the | accomplishment of the almost startling jet peaceful revolution which was then effected — a revolution which the absolutely desperate condition of the finances necessitated. The practical result of that revolution was that the Yiceroy surrendered the whole of the vast landed estate — or Diara — which he and his family had been accumulating to the ruin of the resources of the state, gave up the government which had until that time, been himself alone, and established in power what he was pleased to designate a " responsible Ministry." It will be remembered by our readers that the chief figure in this Ministry, although not the head, was Mr Rivers Wilson, an English financier, who at the request of the Khedive, and with the consent of the British and French Governments had made a most searching and exhaustive examination into the financial condition of the country, and the resources it possessed to meet the claims pressing upon its administration. Having completed his labour of inquiry, and having projeoted a scheme of retrenchment and reform, the Viceroy — whether at the suggestion of friendly powers or of his own inspiration does not appear — besought Mr Rivers Wilson to take office in Egypt as a member of a government of which Nubar Pasha would be the Chief Minister. Reference was made to the British and French Governments, and as a result the Government of Nubar Pasba was formed with Mr Rivebs Wilson as Finance Minister pledged to carry out a clearly defined policy of reform, and with M. Bliquieres, an able French gentleman, aB Minister of Public Works. As conditions precedent to the establishment of the new Government the Khedive promised that no taxes should be imposed or gathered without a law authorising them being promulgated; that future legislation should extend the taxation to foreigners ; that there should be an efficient control over tax collectors ; that there should, be a reserve fund to provide against the contingency of a bad Nile ; that there should be a special jurisdiction for complaints on the Subject of collection and assessment of taxes for the speoial protection of the natives ; that existing vexatious taxes Bhouldbe abolished ; that the land tax should be revised ; and that the obligation to military service should

be placed under restriction. Not only so, but there was to be a radical change of system. As starting poiDte, forced labour by the Government upon the population — a prolific source of abuse — retrenchment, economy, and the husbanding of resources were to go forward so that indeed the Khedive was justified in saying, "My country shall no longer be African ; we shall now form part of Europe." When we last wrote upon this subject, there was every reason for hope that all these reforms would be faithfully carried out and that Egypt would enter upon a new and prosperous existence. ?o fairly did the prospect promise that the house of Rothschild came freely forward with the offer of a loan to the new Government of £8,000,000 to enable it to meet the more pressing creditors' claim and to at once restore the finances to some degree of order and security.

The English and French members of the Cabinet, faithful to the trust which they had undertaken, proceeded to carry out the policy of. reform which had thus been deliberately adopted. The tax gatherers, that like foul vampires had been sucking the life blood out of the people, were restrained in their organised systems of pillage; the public departments were swept clear of sinecnrists, useless favourites and political parasites ,- and the extravagant military and naval establishments — absurd for such a country as Egypt — were greatly reduced. The victims of reform, however, were not likely to be satisfied with the new order of things, nor with the reformers who had turned them out of rosy billets with fat salaries to pick up precarious livings in undiacoverable quarters. Speedily they were found going about in all the large centres of population fomenting dissatisfaction and raising disturbances. This it is never difficult to do where the people are grossly ignorant, fanatical, and corrupt as they are in Egypt. No doubt the fact that two of the Ministers were " foreigners " would afford them good ground to work upon and render their object easy of accomplishment. There is good ground, too, for the belief that they were encouraged to the creation of disturbances by the Viceroy. The Khedive is well known to be a man of vast and feverish ambition, and from the first it has been suspected that he only adopted the part of constitutional ruler wheu the continuance of his power as a despot had become no longer possible. The immediate difficulties of the country had been overcome. Tired of playing a subjective part where he had always been the sole authority, it ie probable that he became anxious to get quit of the " responsible Ministry " which had saved his country, and secretly connived at the disturbances organised against their administration. We learn that about the middle of February "an emeute of a serious and suspicious character " broke out. There were riots at Oairo. After attending a Council of Ministers Nubab Pasha and Mr Rivers Wilson wero stopped in their carriage by a mob of several hundred armed military officers. Missiles were thrown, they were grossly insulted, and only saved from great danger by the arrival of tho Khedive upon the scene with a small detachment of soldiers. These proceedings were followed by declarations from the British and French Governments that the retention of office by Nubar Pasha and his Ministers was considered by them indiepensible, and that any iuterference with the status quo would probably bo followed with serious consequences. It is worthy of note that all through this question of the troubles in Egypt the English and French Cabinets have acted together in a spirit of perfect harmony and union. It would almost appear from their prompt and united action at this point, and subsequently, that they regarded Mr Kivers Wilson and M. Bliquieres as holding a quasi commission to act for them in' the government of Egypt. Probably a knowledge of this relationship, and the fact that the two most powerful western Governments had come to a mutual determination to support and maintain their agents in the Government of Egypt may account for the readiness of the Rothschilds to lend so large an assistance on what — -to the uninitiated — seemed a most doubtful security. Tho pledges of Sultana and Viceroys are, taken by themselves, of little value.

The disturbances at Cairo were followed by a change. Prince Tewfik became head of the Government. Nubar Pasha becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the offices of Finance and works remaining unchanged. This was on March 10, but the new arrangement did not last a month. On April 8 the Khedive dismissed Mr Rivebs Wilson and Monsieur Bliquieres in spite of English and French remonstrances thereby defying both Governments. Mr Rivers Wilson, however, held his ground and refused to bo dismissed, thereby showing that he counted upon the support of the English Government, and that the Egyptian "foreign" Ministers did hold a relationship with the British and French Governments. The Khedive having got rid of the man who at all eveuta had saved his country and himself from financial ruin proceeded to fill up the vacancies with Native imbecilities, and j resumed his former power. We do not think that any importance is to be attached to the circumstance, as telegraphed, that Italy approves the Khedive's conduct, and has sent an envoy to the Egyptian Court. The important fact, however, is, that an offer has come from the Sultan to depose his Viceroy in Egypt, and to appoint Halim Pasha his successor. This offer will certainly be accepted, as the interests of France and England in Egypt are too vast and important to be sacrificed by a stubborn, ambitious, and extravagant ruler such as the Khedive has proved himself to be. If he is permitted to attempt to continue to govern the country, all that has been accomplished during the past year will be absolutely lost, and the difficulties speedily will becomo altogether inex-. tricable. It is not likely that England and France will allow the country to go inevitably to ruin. On the other hand the Porte may depose the Khedive, but will he give up the Government when he is deposed ? From the character of the man it is not likely that he will surrender his power without a struggle, and hence arises the fear that Egypt is destined to be the theatre of the next disturbances to the world's peace.