Impending European Complications.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 82, 27 December 1884, Page 3

Impending European Complications.

Enc'LTSII military interference in Egypt has long been voted a mistake. Sho is now deeply embarras&ed by the affairs of that misgoverned country. First, tho cost of the war against Arabi Pasha, then the military occupation, and now the subjugation of the Soudan rebels, at the expense of the English taxpayer, and Avhat advantage has been gained ? The Native Government is paralysed and incapable of governing the country. English iinanciers, after obtaining a close insight into Egyptian finance, conclude that the Law ot Liquidation, which sets apart the most reliable sources of revenue to satisfy the foreign bond holders, is too grievous to be boi-ne. That is precisely what Arabi Pasha said. The next effort of English administration was to get a re-arrangement of the burdens, and with this view the Powers interested wero invited to confer upon the whole case ; but thoy refused to accept any modification. When tho Conference failed, tho British representative, who is virtually administering the Government, feeling that something must be done to cover the growing deficit, caused the Khedive to institute reforms without reference to the foreign supervisors, established under the Law of Liquidation ; the Sinking Fund of tho Public Dobt was abolished, and the revenues sot apart for it were appropriated to ordinary purposes. But the foreign representatives and their Governments were not to be so easily disposed of. They first protested, and then sued for a recognition of their undoubted rights under tho law. The verdict was in their favour, but the Egyptian Government again acting under advice, wish to make their ro-ad mission conditional upon a modification of the law. This, we learn by a cable despatch to-day, has iriitated the German, Russian, and Austrian Governments ; tho irritation of France may be taken for granted. Thoy, no doubt, regard the treatment of their representatives as an indignity placed upon the Governments that appointed them? The position is full of difficulty, with new dangers springing out of every measure that is devised for the reduction of Egyptian affairs to a condition of order and stability. The English Government have honestly striven to do their duty in Egypt, but they will scarcely be prepared to resist tho combined Great Powers of Europe, and if these refuse either to relinquish their voice in the control of Egyptian affairs or to listen to fair terms for the re-adjustment of the Egyptian finances, England's retirement from the country will leave it in an infinitely worse condition than before the bombardment of Alexandria, and our policy of interference, brinpinp- no rolief to Egypt, can scarcely be considered to have imparted new lustre to the English name and prestige,