The Egyptian Government is showing its desire to be free
of European interference in a very unfortunate way. It declines altogether to accept the very moderate reforms which Mr. Justice Scott declares to be necessary in the judicial department, or to permit the general supervision of a European Judge. Riaz Pasha, the President in Council, is keen enough to perceive that such reforms would supersede the present arbitrary system by a regime of law, and he declares, therefore, that it would involve an unjustifiable interference with the internal administration upon a point of no importance to European bondholders. We trust Lord Salisbury will not give way, for until the Courts are reformed, and the police modernised, justice to the poor cannot be expected in Egypt ; and our first claim to supervise the adminis, tration is, that we shall ensure justice to the fellaheen. Moreover, the matter is of importance to the bondholders, for in Egypt, as everywhere else, the first condition of financial prosperity is, that the decisions of the Civil Courts shall not only be honest but coherent. The French Govern- ment will, of course, support Riaz Pasha; but Sir Evelyn Baring has defeated his opposition in less important matters, and may well strain his influence to secure a change without which much of all we have effected may become worthless.
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