41 “ I WILL SAVE THE HONOUR OP EGYPT.”

CHAPTER X.

“I WILL SAVE THE HONOUR OF EGYPT.”

But what definitely is the object of Gordon’s mission 1 Briefly, the paci¬ fication of the Soudan. But how to be accomplished 1 This it is not easy, even with the light of after events, accurately to determine. We have seen that the British Government at one time recommended Egypt to give up the southern provinces. We have seen that notwithstanding this she permitted or allowed Generals Hicks, Baker and Graham to march against (a part at all events of) the foe that was menacing these southern provinces. One thing, however, is clear : a resort to arms will be the last resort ; that is resolved upon, and a man is sent whose chief influence lies in his known distaste for an appeal to the sword. General Gordon is to use his friendship with the Sheikhs and his popularity with the people, not his power as the representa¬ tive of a belligerent intruder. “ You will bear in mind,” writes Sir Evelyn Baring to him, “that the main end to be pursued is the evacuation of the Soudan. This policy was adopted, after very full discussion, by the Egyptian Government on the advice of Her Majesty’s Government. It meets with the full approval of His Highness the Khedive and of the present Egyptian Min¬ istry. I understand also that you entirely concur in the desirability of adopting this policy, and that you think that it should on no account be changed. You consider that it may take a few months to carry it out with safety. You ate further of opinion that the restoration of the country should

be made to the petty Sultans who assisted at the time of M ehemet Ali’s con¬ quest, and whose families still exist; and that an endeavour should be made to form a confederation of those Sultans. In this view the Egyptian Govern¬ ment entirely concurs. It will, of course, be fully understood that the Egyptian troops are not to be kept in the Soudan merely with a view to consolidating the power of the new rulers of the country. But the Egyptian Government has the fullest confidence in your judgment, your knowledge of the country, and of your comprehension of the general line of

policy to be pursued. You are, therefore, given full discretionary power to retain the troops for such reasonable period as you may think necessary, in order that the abandonment of the country may be accomplished with the

least possible risk to life and property.”

This was written after a long and earnest conversation with General

Gordon himself, his own phrases being occasionally inserted.

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