THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 123 



government. It is entirely out of character with the 

 principles of humanity and commerce, of which the 

 English claim to be the principal exponents. 



" The facts are as under. Mr. Green went to Cairo 

 on December llth, and pointed out to the Viceroy that 

 by having granted M. de Lesseps the concession he 

 would find himself exposed to much annoyance, and 

 that M. de Lesseps, upon the strength of this declared 

 that he had your mandate, and had constituted a 

 company. The consul added that no doubt his High- 

 ness would repudiate this statement as to your having 

 his mandate. 



" Said's reply was : ' People are mistaken in Europe 

 if they attribute the piercing of the isthmus to M. de 

 Lesseps alone, for I am the promoter of it. M. de 

 Lesseps has merely carried out my instructions. You 

 will ask me perhaps what my motive has been, and 

 I will tell you that it has been to bring honour on 

 my name and serve at the same time the interests of 

 the Ottoman Empire. I have acquired by this means 

 the sympathies of all the nations of Europe. You 

 are aware that most of the great Powers are interested 

 in the making of the canal.' The consul replied : 

 4 May I point out to your Highness that if it has been 

 approved of by France and other Powers, it has been 

 strongly opposed by the English Government as 

 contrary to its interests.' The Viceroy said that he 

 was resolved to do all he could to accelerate a work 

 which was generally desired, and gave Mr. Green 



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