THE CAVE MISSION, 139 Liberals nor Conservatives have had any definite" policy with regard to Egypt Nothing amuses me \ more than to read in foreign newspapers, and especially in the French press, denunciations of the astuteness with which England has plotted persistently, and of set purpose, to convert Egypt into a dependency of the British Empire. Having been to some extent behind the scenes in relation to Anglo-Egyptian affairs, I can say with confi-1 dence that every leading British statesman on either!

side, with the exception of Lord Beaconsfield, was more or less hostile to the idea of our annexing Egypt. Even when, at the height of his authority. Lord Beaconsfield contemplated, as I believe, the virtual annexation of Egypt, he soon found out that the disfavour with which the idea was received by his own followers must be fatal to its execution. My own surmise is that Mr. Cave had no specific instructions when he came out to Egypt 1 beyond a general intimation that his report on the \ financial position, if it proved favourable, might / possibly lead to further action on the part of her 1 Majesty's Government. I can only explain the/ sudden and unexpected termination of his mission by the theory that, while he was engaged in prosecuting his inquiries, he received an intimation from home that no further action of any kind was contemplatedy and that, therefore, the sooner the inquiry could be brought to a close, the better for all parties concerned.