The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4341, 29 November 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1882.

An Important factor in the future developtnent of Egypt is to be found in the Kuropean colony. Under tbis term may be included the French, German, and Greek traders and manufacturers who have settled in the country, and provide the backbone of its industry. The financial and industrial companies, though Egyptian by name, are supported by European capital and managed by European administrators. Id the presence and extension of this element, Mr Dicey, whom we hare quoted in previous articles, sees the one chief hope for the amelioration of the condition of the Fellaheen. Wherever European enterprise extends, the Fellaheen receive better pay, are subject to fewer exactions, are less oppressed, and are taught to lead a less purely animal existence than when they art. left to fclje control of that uatitt

employers and task masters. The opposition to the gradual Europeanisation of Egypt which is being brought about by theibfluxof Europeans, conies, solo speak, not from the Fellaheen, the peasantry of the country, bat from the Pashas and land owners who see that the mere presence of Europeans hampers them from carrying on the old system of oppression and extortion with which they enriched themselves at the cost of the Fellaheen. It is the Pashas who object to land companies, to irrigation schemes, and of her works for the development of the natural resources of the country by means _of European capital. Account, too, must be taken of the .European political—as distinguished from the commercial—element. This element is represented by the Consuls General and by the international Courts,-exercising an independent jurisdiction in Egypt, to which the State itself is subject. Mr Dicey thinks that whatever of reform or improvement has been effected in the i administration of the country is due to the influence of the Europeans who presideover the chief departments. Their supervision hinders gross fraud and oppression, and the example of their energy and integrity raises the standard of the whole administration ; under their influence the public service- of Egypt has become comparatively pure and efficient. The European officials are disliked by the Copts and Syrians, who but for them would have more places to fill, and more opportunities for earning irregular emoluments; but as a rule, there is no dislike amidst the natives to European administrators. All ideas of providing Egypt with institutions for which she has no desire, and 19 utterly unfitted, must be put aside, and instead provide her with a system of government in harmony with her wants and usages—one of personal rule. Mr Dicey advocates an autocratic government such as that by which we rule India, under which the excesses of arbitrary power are controlled by the action of the law and by public opinion. The protection of the laws could be provided by extending the jurisdiction of the international courts to suits between natives themselves, and the force of public opinion might be brought to bear on the administration by tbe creation of a genuine Chamber of Notables—of representative natives entitlt-d to express their views and tender advice, but possessing no legislative or executive power; also by the presence of a considerable body of Europeans in the administration. The personal rule of the Khedive forms the system of Government most congenial to the wants and requirements of the Egyp tian people; qyd the reigning Khedi»e, both in character and conduct, is about as favorable a specimen of an Oriental ruler as the world can produce.