512 



The Review of Reviews. 



my narrative of my share in the affair to justify 

 Mr. Blunt's strenuous argument that the motive force 

 which overbore Baring's reluctance was generated not 

 by his own initiative, but by a cunning scheme on the 

 part of Hartington and Granville to circumvent Mr. 

 (Gladstone by rendering the evacuation of Egypt 

 impossible. 



-MR. blunt's incredulity. 



Mr. Blunt's "arguments" are very amusing in the 

 light of these facts. He says : — 



I think it cannot be pretended that Stead's recommendation 

 of Uoitlon for the post was so potent and instantaneous an 

 influence at the Foreign Office as to liave forced Granville's 

 liand unless Granville had been already willing. It is far more 

 likely that those in the Cabinet who wanted to send Gordon 

 should have made use of Stead to popularise their plan than 

 thai Stead should have been able by his few words, however 

 (lowerful, so suddenly to force it on them. 



The pressure of public opinion was put upon Gladstone by 

 Hartington through Stead and the magic of Gordon's name. 

 The /';// Miill GazctU had more than once been used to coerce 

 Gladstone. It was the paper that he chiefly read. The Whig^ 

 H ere using the Fall Mall Gazelle under Stead now that they 

 wanted his consent to tire sending of an " English Officer " to 

 .Sarawak the Soudan. . , . Morley would have one believe that 

 <jranville, and Iliirtington, and Uilke, and Northbrook, at 

 least as much rogues, politically, as fools, went suddenly mad 

 on Stead's persuading theni that Gordon was a miracle man. 

 Cabinet Ministers do not go mad in that way. Nor ate they 

 thus carried off their legs in twenty-four hours by a news- 

 (i.iper interview. It 'is they that inspire the newspapers, 

 not the newspapers them ; and, though Heaven knows they are 

 guided at times by little enough wisdom, it is seldom to the 

 press they go for their folly, especially at the Foreign Office. 



The notion that ministers inspire newspapers, not 

 the newspapers ministers, is deliciously naive. We 

 did not so understand the law of the universe in my 

 time at Northumberland Street. 



Gordon's original idea. 



Gordon went off " to cut off the dog's tail," to use 

 his own phrase, amid a universal chorus of approval, 

 (lordoii's idea was to go off on his dromedary into 

 the camp of the Mahdi, to tell him that the British 

 Government was willing to surrender the Soudan into 

 his hands if he woul':' permit the retirement of the 



garrisons, and set up some kind of an orderl) goverii- 

 ment. It was a magnificent inspiration. Mr. Blunt 

 reproaches hiin for abandoning the notion — 

 of going straight on a peaceful errand to the Mahdi al El 

 Obcyd, and treating with him personally for the withdrawal" of the 

 Egyptian garrisons. I have always been of opinion that that 

 would h.ave been his wisest course ; and it certainly was in his 

 mind when he started from London, for passing through I'aris 

 the next morning he saw Sheffield at the Emb.assy and told him 

 of his intention so to do. There is good reason to believe thai 

 he would have been courteously received at El Obeyd, and that 

 if he had negotiated on the basis of withdrawing the garrisoii> 

 peaceably and handing them over to the Mahdi, the Maluli 

 would have provided the necessary escorts. At any rate it was 

 his best chance. 



VETOED BV LORD CROMER. 



Mr. Blunt forgets that General Gordon was under 

 Baring's orders, and that Baring forbade him to act 

 on the inspiration of his genius. Baring telegraphed, 

 " I hope you will give me a positive assurance thai 

 you will on no account put yourself voluntarily in the 

 power of the Mahdi." Gordon telegraphed back : 

 " I will fulfil your orders." Thus the best chance 

 was wrecked by Lord Cromer, who could see in it 

 nothing but a " harebrained enterprise." 



There is little more to add, save that the moment 

 I heard of Baring's interference with Gordon, I wrote 

 a passionate leader in the Pall Mall Gazetk im- 

 ploring the Government to recall Gordon at once if 

 they were not prepared to give him a free hand. 

 " You are sending a hero with a walking-stick," 

 I said, " to do the work of an army corps. If you do 

 not allow him to do his work in his own way you had 

 better bring him back at once, or you will have to 

 send an army to the Soudan after all." An observa- 

 tion which proved prophetic. I mention this because 

 it was this episode which occurred after Gordon had 

 left Cairo which first brought me into personal rela- 

 tions with Lord Esher. He entirely agreed with me, 

 and from that agreement sprang up a friendship 

 which has been and is one of the treasures of m\- 

 life. 



There is much to say about Mr. Blunt and his 

 gossip Mr. Button and Lady C, who seem to have 

 taken a pleasure in telling hini absurd canards which 

 he seems to have swallowed with innocent credulity. 

 But my space is exhausted. 



