BRITISH INTERVENTION British army sent to Egypt under Sir Garnet Wolseley — Conference at Constantinople — British Government proposes self-denying ordinance— Occupation of Suez Canal — Opposition of M. de Lesseps.

It was on the 20th of July, just after Arabi had committed a direct act of war by an attempt to cut off the water supply of Alexandria, that the British Government resolved to despatch a British army to Egypt in order to suppress the military mutiny organized by Arabi and his fellow-officers. In announcing the despatch of the expedition, which was to be commanded by Lord Wolseley — then General Sir Garnet Wolseley — Mr. Gladstone went out of his way to contend that the landing of British troops in Egypt was not an act of war. Whatever may be thought of the contention, I have no doubt it expressed the genuine reluctance with which Mr.

Gladstone embarked upon the conflict which led to the permanent occupation of Egypt; his one desire was to avoid intervention ; or, if it could not be avoided, to restrict its scope within the narrowest possible limits. In dwelling so often on this point,