"SEE-SAW. 107 sentiments entertained by Zebehr Pasha towards General Gordon.

I would not on any account run the risk of putting General Gordon in his power.

If Zebehr Pasha is nominated, it will be very necessary to lay down in writing and in the plainest language what degree of support he may expect from her majesty's government. I cannot recommend that he should be promised the ' moral support ' of her majesty's government. In the first place, he would scarcely understand the sense of the phrase, and, moreover, I do not think he would attach importance to any support which was not material.

It is for her majesty's government to judge what the effect of his appointment would be upon public opinion in England; but except for that I can see no reason why Zebehr Pasha should not be proclaimed ruler of the Soudan with the approbation of her majesty's government. It should be distinctly explained to him in writing that he must rely solely upon his own resources to maintain his position. He might receive a moderate sum ol money from the Egyptian government to begin with. His communications with that government might be conducted through her majesty's representative in Cairo, as General Gordon suggests.

With regard to the detailed conditions mentioned by General Gordon, I think they might form the subject of further consideration and discussion, both with General Gordon and with others in authority here. I am inclined to doubt whether such conditions would be of any use; they would probably not long be observed.

In conclusion, I may add that I have no idea whether Zebehr Pasha would accept the position which it is proposed to offer him."

There is a painful air of indecision about this. " Perhaps you might, and it would probably be for the best if you did, althou after all, it would be of very little use unless, indeed, you were to make up your mind not to do quite what is really wanted," seems to be the tone of it. This is not difficult to explain, however. Sir E. Baring was in a very awkward position: the government henknew little or nothing about the country and the imminent situation; he knew a good deal more, because he was at Cairo, and had learned something about the whole position, and was acquainted