THE MARITIME CANAL OF SUEZ. 259 



Mr. Lowe, and the result was, after an able defence by Mr. Disraeli, 

 that the Resolution by the Government was agreed to, without a 

 division ; Nemine contradicente. 



INTERVENTION OF ENGLAND IN EGYPT IN 1882. 



The next important event, affecting the Suez Canal, arose in 

 1882, when England, under the Government of Mr. Gladstone, 

 unfortunately broke through, what had become a traditional policy 

 of Non-intervention, and for various reasons, of a commercial, 

 financial, and political character, undertook the suppression 01 

 Rebellion in Egypt, which led to her armed intervention, and 

 an eventual occupation of the country. 



The Government of England expected, but not without good 

 grounds, that France would have been her Ally in this policy of 

 armed intervention, in Egypt, in accordance with Treaty engage- 

 ments, and, from considerations of mutual interest, but, at the last 

 moment, this alliance and assistance was refused, and England was 

 compelled to undertake single-handed, the pacification of Egypt, for 

 the purpose, pre-eminently, as it was declared, of maintaining her 

 communications with the East, unimpaired. 



The intervention of England, therefore, in Egypt, was mainly, if 

 not entirely, influenced by the fact that the Suez Canal pierced 

 Egyptian territory, and, but for this, England would not have been 

 compelled, we will go further, and say, would not have felt it her 

 duty, to interfere in the internal affairs of Egypt. 



If doubt exists in any mind upon this point, surely the emphatic 

 declaration of Mr. Gladstone, made at the Mansion House, 

 August 9th, 1883, will remove it : — 



"Egypt," said the Prime Minister, " having become the great gate between 

 the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, it is essential, for the industry and enter- 

 prise of mankind, that the gate should be open." 



The importance to England of a free passage to the East cannot 

 be questioned, and the Suez Canal must ever be considered the 

 high road of a steadily increasing commerce, embracing not only 

 the luxuries, but the necessities of every-day life. 



