191 1 ] Kitchener Appointed to Egypt 355 



ply, which I intend him to forward to the Khedive as my advice. It 

 is that His Highness should write a formal letter to our King George, 

 protesting against Kitchener, and asking for an homme d'etat to be 

 sent to Egypt in Gorst's place, one who shall work with him to set 

 the Government of Egypt on a Constitutional basis. Such a letter, 

 if published, will at least serve to reconcile the Khedive with the 

 Nationalists. 



" Dillon writes : ' I have read your poem, the " Coronation Ode " ; 

 it is a fine powerful denunciation, rather too hard on your own country 

 and your own people. If I were an Englishman I do not think I 

 could so utterly have condemned England, much as I detest Grey's 

 policy. The Rosebery gang and the Tories have undoubtedly led 

 England through the mire, as far as foreign policy is concerned, but 

 in spite of all England remains the freest country in the world, and 

 that is something.' This may be true, but it is precisely the position 

 taken by the Primrose League with its motto ' Imperium et Libertas, 

 Empire Abroad, Liberty at Home.' 



" The Bearwood Estate, belonging to the Walter family, was put 

 up for sale a few days ago, with a reserve of £150,000, but no bidding. 

 Meynell tells me that the Walters have come to complete ruin, a won- 

 derful event when one thinks of their career of glory as proprietors of 

 the ' Times ' and the power they wielded in the world, wielded and 

 abused to the ruin of how many weak nations. The ' Times ' was the 

 source of their wealth, and it no longer pays its expenses and has 

 passed into other hands. 



"2yd July (Sunday). — Ryan came and also El Abd, president 

 of the Egyptian Society of London, which has written to the Khedive 

 demanding of him a Constitution for Egypt, but he declares the 

 Khedive is not to be trusted. 



" To dinner came Belloc and with him a French Jesuit, Father 

 Courvois, who is the director of a kind of Catholic Socialism — an 

 intelligent and agreeable man, who speaks excellent English. 



" 24th July. — Osman Ghaleb writes from Paris, saying he has sent 

 on my message to the Khedive, but he is unlikely to take my advice. 

 On leaving for Italy the Khedive had told him that he had had a 

 letter from Kitchener announcing his appointment, and saying that he 

 hoped they would work together for the regeneration of Egypt. 



" 25th July. — To London for a great luncheon given by the Eastern 

 Association to the two delegates of the Ottoman Parliament, Bostani 

 Effendi, senator, and Riza Tewfik, Deputy, a heavy affair with long- 

 winded speeches by Admiral Fremantle and other ancient bores, and 

 by the delegates, who spoke in very creditable English, but were afraid 

 of saying anything precise about the actual situation. I had, however, 

 a private talk with Riza Tewfik, who takes a gloomy view of the situa- 



