326 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

Granville issued a circular note to the Great Powers, informing them that — " although for the present a British force remained in Egypt for the preservation of public tranquillity, the British Government wished to withdraw its troops, as soon as a system capable of protecting the authority of the Khedive should be organized."

To suppose this declaration was issued with the object of hoodwinking the Powers to whom it was addressed, is not only inconsistent with the traditions of British diplomacy, but involves utter ignorance of the character of the Administration by whom the circular was issued. It is not difficult, I think, to trace the hand of Mr. Gladstone in its wording.

His dislike to any permanent occupation of Egypt by England had undergone no modification since, some few years before, he, being then out of office, had gone out of his way to write an article in the Nuuteenth Century denouncing any idea of annexing the territory which forms our highway to India. Recent events had shown him that the withdrawal of our troops, which he had supposed would follow immediately upon the suppression of the military mutiny, was a practical impossibility. But though he recognized this truth, he was resolved to do everything in his power to bar the possibility of our temporary occupation developing into one of a permanent character. From his point of view, he was undoubtedly in the right. Whether that point