THE MARITIME CANAL OF SUEZ. 257 



The first influential personage to make a public declaration on 

 this transaction, was Ferdinand de Lesseps, who, in addressing the 

 Shareholders of the Canal on the subject, observed : — 



" The English nation now accepts that share in the Canal Company which had 

 been loyally reserved to her from the onset ; and if this action is to have any 

 effect, that effect, in my opinion, can only be the abandonment by the British 

 Government of the long-standing attitude of hostility towards the interests of the 

 original Shareholders of the Maritime Canal, whose perseverance has been at once 

 so active and so well directed. 



" I, therefore, look upon the clos6 community of interests about to be established 

 between French and English capital, for the purely industrial and necessarily 

 peaceftil working of the United Maritime Canal, as a most fortunate occurrence." 



On behalf of the German Government, Prince Bismarck conveyed 

 to Her Majesty's Government his high appreciation of the policy 

 adopted, for the transaction met with his sincere approval, as a 

 further and important guarantee for the maintenance of peace in 

 Europe. 



Equally friendly sentiments were expressed by the Governments 

 of Italy, and Austria-Hungary, in regard to the wisdom of the step 

 , that had been taken, and as highly advantageous to the commercial 

 interests of all nations ; and, even the Porte, being unable to resist 

 the general chorus of approval, contented itself with a formal inquiry, 

 both at London and Cairo, declaring to Europe at large that it had 

 received no Official information respecting the transaction, and that, 

 therefore, she would reserve its judgment until Ofificially informed 

 through the usual diplomatic channels. 



Fortunately for the Government of Mr. Disraeli, and for the in- 

 terests of all parties concerned in this great transaction. Parliament 

 was prorogued ; for, had it been otherwise, Ministers would un- 

 doubtedly have been subjected to a considerable amount of criticism, 

 and, probably, opposition, which may have delayed, and, possibly 

 rejected, the scheme for the acquisition of the interests of the 

 Government of Egypt in the Suez Canal. On the other hand, no 

 charge cojild be made against the British Cabinet of concealment 

 of their intentions, much less of attempting a policy of surprise 

 during the Recess, and thus avoiding the action of Parliament, until 

 it was too late to reverse their decision ; for, as we have previously 

 explained, the step taken by the Khedive, under the advice of his 

 Ministers, was so sudden, and the necessity for promptitude so 

 urgent, arising from his financial embarrassments, that neither time 



