Interview with Arabi Pasha.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4242, 5 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

Interview with Arabi Pasha.

The Cairo correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing to that journal, says:—l had this morning an interview with Arabi Pasha, who, after I had waited about half an hour, read the letter of introduction which I had presented. I told him that, as the representative of an important English newspaper, I was anxious to obtain from his own lips a statement of the views of his party, which, notwithstanding the official relations between himself and the British Government, I assured him would always receive impartial consideration from the British public Arabi replied —" The British public is already in po-session of my views, through my iriends B.'unt ami (iregory. They have also set •brth truly (he views of the party which have chosen me as their leader. England h ls, however, not chosen to listen to the truth ; she must, accordingly* abih' by the consequences." I thereupon remarked that the personal opinions of two individuals, however eminent, could not be accepted by public opinion in En«laud as authoritative without being supported by further confirmatory evidence. Arabi rejoined—" You find me here surrounded by representatives of every class of the nation. That is surely good enough evidence. They are witnesses of my words. Others " (he continued, with marked emphasis on the word) "have relied not on the nation, but on the promises of England. They are row suffering for their credulity. My followers and I hold in equally little account both the promises and threats of England and France. Those who come to us with peaceful intentions we are ready to meet in a like spirit; but to those who speak with the sword we answer with the sword. We have repelled, and will repel European aggression with all the strength in our power ; and, being confident in the protection of God and the approbation <>f the Sultan, whose will we have obediently fulfilled, we have nothing to reproach ourselves with, and we feel certain of the triumph of our cause."