466 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

reappointment to the Sirdarship. Finally a despatch was written from the Foreign Office, containing the most distinct and explicit avowal that had ever yet been made as to the relations between the protecting and the protected State. It was affirmed in this despatch that — " If the Prime Minister (of Egypt) and the heads of other important departments were to be summarily dismissed in disregard of British advice there was nothing to prevent the dismissal of any other functionaries, European or native, who might not have the good fortune to fall in with the tendencies of the moment, or whose prominence might afford a favourable opportunity for the display of autocratic power. It was not too much to say, that, under these circumstances, the whole fabric, so laboriously built up during the last ten years, would have been at the mercy of caprice or intrigue, and would rapidly and necessarily have crumbled away."

The words I have given in italics form the sting of this communication. Put into plain English, it means Pthat while England remains in occupation of Egypt, I the Khedive has no right to interfere with the action "f the British officials, or to dismiss either Ministers or officials, whether native or foreign, without the knowledge and consent of the British representative in Cairo. I am not clear how far this despatch was officially communicated to the Khedive or his Ministers. But on its tenor being made known, Riaz Pasha resigned his Premiership, and Nubar Pasha, who was considered likely to be more in harmony with the British authorities, became Prime Minister once more.