A new batch of Egyptian papers has been presented to
Par- liament. They come down, however, only to February 6th, and their interest is only historical. It seems clear that M. Gambetta from the first saw mischief in the convocation of the Notables, and wished to arrange for active intervention. Lord Granville, however, after deprecating premature decisions, advised that the opinion of Europe should be asked, and that Turkey should be employed as the executive agent. In the most important despatch of the series, dated January 30th, the British Foreign Secretary declares that "Her Majesty's Government have a strong objection to the occupation by them- selves of Egypt," as sure to awaken jealousies in Europe ; that they think a joint occupation by France and England nearly as bad ; but that while occupation by Turkey "would be a great evil, they are not convinced that it would entail politi- cal dangers so great as those attending the other alternatives." This course, it is evident, was pressed on the French Govern- ment, and at last accepted, subject to certain reserves which, when published, will, we imagine, explain a good deal that is now unintelligible. They will, for instance, enable us to under- stand why none of the .voluminous correspondence of March, April, and May has yet been given to the world.
