Amended Extract of Despatch from the Marquis of Salisbury to

Mr. Malet of September 19, 1879.

[See "Egypt No. 11 (1884)".]

(Extract.)

The Marquis of Salisbury to Mr. Malet.

Foreign Office, September 19, 1879. I HAD this day a visit from M. Waddington, who discussed with me the course to be taken by the English and French Governments in regard to Egyptian affairs. M. Waddington was anxious that immediate action should now be taken. He said that he was informed that the Agents of other Powers were gaining influence over the new Khedive, to the detriment of that of England and France. He thought it very desirable, therefore, that the newly-appointed Controllers-General should go

out at once.

In this I agreed, and I promised that I would request Major Baring to start as soon as possible.

I thought it right to inform his Excellency that I believed M. de Blignières to be averse to the present arrangements. I urged that explicit instructions should be given

to him.

These M. Waddington promised to give, and said he would make M. de Blignières understand that the system of European Ministers could not be resumed.

The result of our further conversation was an agreement on the following points:

1. That the Commission of Liquidation should have power to deal with the Unified Debt, as well as the other liabilities of the Egyptian Government. This concession M. Waddington made unwillingly, but said that he had no alternative, as his own counter-proposal met with no support from any of the Powers.

2. That before any money was appropriated towards payment of the creditors, a sufficient sum should be set aside to provide for the expenses of Egyptian administration.

3. That the native Government should receive our earnest support.

4. That the two Governments should make it clearly understood to the Khedive that they would not tolerate the establishment in Egypt of political influence on the part of any other European Power in competition with that of England and France; and that they were prepared to take action to any extent that might be found necessary to give effect to their views in this respect.

5. That Messrs. Baring and De Blignières should meet in Paris, and should draw up a draft Decree for the institution of a Commission of Liquidation, and a draft of identical instructions to be addressed to themselves as to their powers and duties.

6. That the arrangements to be made for the continuance of the Reformed Tribunals at the close of the period of five years for which they are now established required careful inquiry and consideration. M. Waddington and I agreed that the powers now exercised by these Tribunals were excessive, and that there were symptoms of a disposition on the part of some of the Judges to strain the authority of the Courts

still further.

7. Finally, we concurred in the opinion that the scheme put forward by the Austrian Government, which was tantamount to a proposal for an international administration of Egypt, was in its nature impracticable.

(AMENDED)

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE

RESPECTING THE

AFFAIRS OF EGYPT.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.

1884.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS.

To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from any of the following Agents, viz., Messrs. HANSARD, 13, Great Queen Street, W.C., and 32, Abingdon Street, Westminster; Messrs. EYRE and SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, and Sale Office, House of Lords; Messrs. ADAM and CHARLES BLACK, of Edinburgh;

Messrs. ALEXANDER THOM and Co., or Messrs. HODGES, FIGGIS, and Co., of Dublin.

Further Correspondence respecting the Affairs of Egypt.

No. 1.

Sir E. Baring to Earl Granville.*—(Received by telegraph, April 16.) My Lord,

Cairo, April 16, 1884.

I HAVE received a telegram from General Gordon, of which I inclose a copy, in which he states that he considers himself free to act according to circumstances, that he shall hold on to Khartoum as long as he can, and will endeavour to suppress the rebellion, and that if he cannot do so he will retire to the Equator.

General Gordon has informed Colonel Stewart and Mr. Power that they should go to Berber as soon as it is possible to send steamers down.

I have, however, received the inclosed telegrams from Colonel Stewart and Mr. Power, from which it appears that they both elect to follow General Gordon to the Equator.

Khartoum, April 1884. (Received at Cairo, April 16.)

AS far as I can understand, the situation is this: you state your intention of not sending any relief up here or to Berber, and you refuse me Zebehr.

I consider myself free to act according to circumstances. I shall hold on here as long as I can, and if I can suppress the rebellion I shall do so. If I cannot, I shall retire to the Equator, and leave you indelible disgrace of abandoning the garrisons of Senaar, Kassala, Berber, and Dongola, with the certainty that you will eventually be forced to smash up the Mahdi under great difficulties if you would retain peace in Egypt.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart to Sir E. Baring.

1884.

Khartoum, April (Received at Cairo, April 16.) GENERAL GORDON has acquainted me with your intention of not relieving Khartoum, and proposes I should go to Berber and trust to success of your negotiations for opening road from Suakin to Berber. General Gordon has given you his decision as to what he himself intends doing, and weighing all circumstances and doubting the success of your opening the road to Berber, unless by advancing troops, I am inclined to think my retreat will be perhaps safer by the Equator. I shall therefore follow the fortunes of General Gordon.

* See "Egypt No. 13 (1883)," p. 11, No. 19.