1909] Riots at Cairo 241 



out. She was too intent on her own particular politics to be interesting 

 in any other way. As to these she no doubt began by being an 

 enthusiast, but she also made a business of it later. Her advocacy of 

 Ismail Pasha's claims in 1885 can hardly have been political. She and 

 Stead were pretty well matched. I find in the book one important letter 

 which I wish I had had when I was writing my ' Secret History of 

 the Occupation of Egypt.' It is from Gladstone, written a few days 

 after the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and reveals how entirely that great 

 moralist had thrown himself into the fury of blood-shedding in that 

 least just of wars. After thanking his correspondent for her con- 

 gratulations he says : ' We and the whole country are in a state of 

 rejoicing, and I hope of thankfulness to Almighty God who has pros- 

 pered us in what I feel and know to be an honest undertaking. . . . 

 Whether the England of 1882 deserves to be regarded by some in 

 Russia with a jealous eye, or whether we, too, have been labouring 

 in the common interests of justice and civilization a little time will 

 show. We certainly ought to be in good humour, for we are pleased 

 with our army, our navy, our admirals, our generals, and our organi- 

 zation ! ... It is hardly more than seven weeks since we determined 

 to send some 35,000 men to a distance of say 3,000 miles, and it 

 has pleased God to give us a quick result.' 



" This, be it recollected, in regard to a military adventure undertaken 

 in the interests of the Stock Exchange, and a battle at which 20,000 

 of the half-armed peasantry of the Nile had been slaughtered. 



" 2nd April. — There is a telegram in the papers, ' Riots at Cairo, 

 the garrison under arms on account of new Press Law ' ! I should not 

 be surprised if what has happened in the Balkans may have had some 

 connection with it. There Servia has had to accept the terms imposed 

 on her by Austria — backed as Austria was by Germany — while 

 Servia failed of her expected backing by Russia, a German triumph 

 and a corresponding defeat for England. There has long been a con- 

 nection between Egyptian Nationalists and German policy. It is clear 

 now that Germany is all-powerful in Europe, and that a great slap 

 has been given in the face to our Foreign Office, and the King and 

 Hardinge and Grey, who has played his cards badly. I am only sorry 

 for the sake of reform prospects in Turkey, which are likely to be 

 jeopardized. 



" yd April. — Rothstein came to see me, and we discussed the whole 

 state of Europe and Asia, where his views coincide closely with mine. 

 He looks upon Grey's diplomatic defeat as absolute, and Germany's 

 position as unassailable in Europe. Grey's (or what is the same thing, 

 the King's and Hardinge's) attempt to get together a Coalition with 

 Russia and France against the Central German Powers, he regards as 

 an immense error of calculation, Grey being unaware first of Russia's 



