THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1907. A PAGE OF HISTORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8499, 31 July 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1907. A PAGE OF HISTORY.

Mr Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, so enthua pro-Egyptian that he used to ride on a camel from the railway station at Cairo to his hotel, has written a book entitled, "The Secret History of the English Occupation of Egypt," which contains much interesting information. Mr Blunt played an important part in Arabi's rebellion in the eighties, and he believes strongly that Arabi could have freed Egypt, could have ruled her when free, and could have kept her clear of Turkish and European influence. In 1882 Mr Blunt was a messenger from Arabi to Mr Gladstone, and he gives an account of the interview. "In our public despatches," said Mr [Gladstone, "we are much hampered by the opinion of Europe, which we are bound to consider, and this is not favourable to Liberal institutions in Egypt. But they (the Egyptians) should read our speeches." How typically GladEtonian! Arabi and his party, of course, read their actions. Then we have an account of a conversation at that time with Lord Rosebery, in which the noble lord, asked what his views about Egypt were, said: "I have no views at all but those of a bondholder." One of the revelations of the book is Gordon's profound sympathy for Arabi's movement, which lie avowed in letters to Mr Blunt. These letters were sent on to the Government, and the following extraordinary reply received from Sir Edward Hamilton: - "I cannot help thinking that you and your Chinese Gordon's opinion of Arabi would be somewhat modified if you had seen some of the documents I have read. Some months ago (tlvs, please, is quite private) certain enquiries were made about Chinese Gordon. He had suggestions to make about Ireland,

and the result of these enquiries were, to the best of my recollection, that he was not clothed in the Tightest of minds." Yet this same Government afterwards sent this same man to unravel the tangle of the Soudan. Egypt gave the Liberals a severe blow in the eighties. The explanation of the Government's action in regard to the relief of Gordon may be found in a letter from Mr Gladstone to Mr Blunt. The Prime Minister confesses, with regret, that Egypt occupies "an insignificant share of my daily attention." A Liberal reviewer remarks that here we have the whole tragedy.