THE ACCESSION OF ABBAS II. 46s counsellors, who were always urging him to assert himself, he should have thought it well to establish his right to the real, as well as the nominal, command of the native army. This delusion, if, as I believe, it was seriously entertained, proved of short duration. As soon as the news of the incident reached Cairo, Lord Cromer gave Riaz Pasha to understand that the censure passed on the British officers of the Egyptian army must be withdrawn, and that the Sirdar must be induced to retract his resignation. Riaz Pasha conveyed this communication to the Khedive, and, if I am rightly informed, did not hesitate to express his opinion that if his Highness did not give way, the consequences might be serious. The words used at the Wady Haifa review were explained to be of no consequence. The Sirdar was assured that he possessed the full confidence of the Viceroy ; and General Kitchener consented to continue his services as Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian army. The incident, to use a French phrase, had been voided. But even after everything had been explained away, to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, the British Government felt it necessary to mark their disapproval of the covert opposition of the Khedive to the British authorities in Egypt, which had culminated at Wady Haifa. Maher Pasha, who, under the Riaz Ministry, had used his position at the War Office in a manner detrimental to the authority of the Sirdar, was forced to resign.

General Kitchener had the rank of K.C.M.G. conferred upon him by the Queen shortly after his 2 H