Spoiling the Egyptians.

Patea Mail, 4 September 1882, Page 3

Spoiling the Egyptians.

Some light is thrown on the causes of the revolt in Egypt. The last two Khedives had been borrowing money, and had shown their gratitude by appointing foreigners to public offices. This practice had gone so far, that almost every public office under Government came (o be filled by men who are not Egyptians. The public debt of Egypt, and the general revenue and expenditure, were placed by agreement in 1876 under the control of a financial commission, consisting chiefly of English and French. Other minor offices to the number of 1300 became gradually filled by foreigners. The army .alone remained native. Thus Egyptians have latterly seen their revenues managed by foreigners, and seen that nearly every public office to which educated natives should aspire have been also held by foreigners. This spoiling of the Egyptians produced its natural, result in a revolt by the native educated classes, who worked on the fears and jealousies of the mob. The native revolt broke out first through the army, but the mob took it up with terrible earnestness when the bombardment of Alexandria destroyed all authority in that city. This episode in Egypt is another instance of borrowing and sorrowing.