Arabi Pasha may or may not have instigated the entente.
Accounts conflict, except upon the single point that there was organisation among the rioters, who used clubs instead of swords, but the whole advantage of the incident accrued to Arabi. The Khedive, on hearing of the riots, was advised to retire to Alexandria, where the road to his Palace can be swept by the guns from the Fleet, and Dervish Pasha accom- panied him, leaving Arabi virtual Dictator in Cairo. The troops obey him implicitly, and he still hopes, it is stated, that Tewfik may be dethroned, and himself named Regent, on behalf of Abbas Pasha, a child of eight. Failing this solution, he will, be affirms, at once fire on foreign soldiers, should any land ; while, if the Sultan sends a corps d'armee, he will proclaim a member of the Shereefal family of Mecca Khalif, and call all Arabs to arms on his behalf. This declara- tion, which was only half understood by the Daily News' corre- spondent, to whom it was made, is thoroughly understood at Constantinople, and has greatly increased the hesitation of the Sultan. He wants Egypt, not an Arab revolt against his Khalifate, and is interposing delays to the demand for Turkish troops which Tewfik is known to have made. He will probably send them, rather than see Alexandria occupied,—but a catas- trophe may occur first. Fortunately, in the last resort Alexandria cannot resist the Fleet.
