“ I WILL SAVE THE HONOUR OF EGYPT.” 43

“ My idea is that the restoration of the country should be made to the different petty Sultans who existed at the time of Mehemet Ali’s conquest, and whose families still exist ; that the Mahdi should be left altogether out of the calculation as regards the handing over the country ; and that it should be optional with the Sultans to accept his supremacy or not. As these Sul¬ tans would probably not be likely to gain by accepting the Mahdi as their Sovereign, it is probable that they will hold to their independent positions. Thus we should have two factors to deal with—namely, the Petty Sultans asserting their several independence, and the Mahdi’s party aiming at supremacy over them. To hand, therefore, over to the Mahdi the arsenals, etc., would, I consider, be a mistake. They should be handed over to the Sultans of the States in which they are placed.

“ The most difficult question is how and to whom to hand over the arsen¬ als at Khartoum, Dongola, and Kassala, which towns have, so to say, no old standing families—Khartoum and Kassala having sprung up since Mehemet

Ali’s conquest. Probably it would be advisable to postpone any decision as to these towns till such time as the inhabitants have made known their opinion.

“4. I have, in Paragraph 3, proposed the transfer of the lands to the local Sultans, and stated my opinion that these will not accept the supremacy

of the Mahdi. If this is agreed to, and my supposition correct as to their

action, there can be but little doubt that, as far as he is able, the Mahdi will endeavour to assert his rule over them, and will be opposed to any evacuation

of the Government employes and troops. My opinion of the Mahdi’s forces

is, that the bulk of those who were with him at Obeid will refuse to cross the Nile, and that those who do so will not exceed 3000 or 4000 men, and also that these will be composed principally of black troops who have deserted, and

who, if offered fair terms, would come over to the Government side. In such

a case, viz., ‘ Sultaus accepting transfer of territory and refusing the supremacy

of the Mahdi, and Mahdi’s black troops coming over to the Government, re¬ sulting in weakness of the Mahdi,’ what should be done should the Mahdi’s adherents attack the evacuating columns 1 It cannot be supposed that these are to offer no resistance ; and if in resisting they should obtain a success, it

would be but reasonable to allow them to follow up the Mahdi to such a position as would ensure their future safe march. This is one of those difficult questions which our Government can hardly be expected to answer, but which

may arise, and to which I would call attention. Paragraph 1 fixes irrevocably the decision of the Government—viz., to evacuate the territory, and, of

course, as far as possible, involves the avoidance of fighting. I can, therefore, only say that, having in view Paragraph 1, and seeing the difficulty of asking Her Majesty’s Government to give a decision or direction as to what should