462 Appendix VIII [18S1-2 



1881 The Sultan, as suzerain of Tunis, protests, but the fait accompli is 

 accepted by Granville, Salisbury in opposition maintaining silence. 



General rising in the Tunisian Regency against the French. 



Sfax is bombarded by the French fleet and given up to pillage. 



The Mohammedan rising spreads through North Africa and affects 

 Algeria. The Mahdi first heard of in Kardofan. 



In Egypt it strengthens the hands of the National Movement, and 

 is joined by the army. Arabi, being in command of the Cairo 

 garrison, is recognized as National Leader. 



An attempt having been made to arrest Arabi, he heads a popular 

 demonstration before Abdin Palace, and demands the summoning of 

 a Chamber of Notables. This, contrary to the English Financial 

 Controller's advice, is promised by the Khedive Tewfik, and the 

 Notables are summoned. Great popular rejoicings. 



Gambetta, alarmed at the violence of feeling in North Africa, per- 

 suades Granville to issue a Joint Note with the purpose of detaching 

 Tewfik from the Egyptian Nationalists and promising him support 

 against them. The Joint Note is published, causing extreme popular 

 anger at Cairo. 



1882 1st Jan.— The first Nationalist Programme is published in the 

 " Times." 



The Notables having met, insist on Constitutional Government 

 with power, vested in a Legislative Chamber, of voting the annual 

 budget, except that half of it affecting the interest of the National 

 Debt. 



The Controllers refuse to allow Financial Control of any kind to 

 the Chamber. 



The Notables insisting, the Ministers resign, and are succeeded by 

 a Nationalist Cabinet, with Arabi as War Minister. 



yth Feb. — A Constitution is decreed by Tewfik. 



Preparations are made by Gambetta at Toulon for sending French 

 troops to Egypt to put down the Constitution, England to send ships 

 to Alexandria, but this is prevented by Gambetta's defeat on a ques- 

 tion of home policy, and his retirement from office. 



He is replaced by Freycinet, who adopts a friendly attitude 

 towards the Constitution, Granville remaining hostile. Blignieres, 

 the French Controller, is withdrawn by Freycinet. 



The Egyptian Parliament meets at Cairo and announces a pro- 

 gramme of reforms. Order is maintained throughout the country. 

 Nevertheless, under financial pressure in England, and through false 

 reports of disorder in Egypt, Granville insists with Gladstone on 

 intervention by force. 



British and French men-of-war sent to Alexandria under Beau- 

 champ Seymour. 



The Sultan is once more invited by Granville to exert his authority 

 as Suzerain in Egypt. 



He sends a Turkish Commissioner, Dervish Pasha, with instructions 



