CHAPTER IX

LABOUCHERE AND MR. GLADSTONE'S EGYPTIAN POLICY

Mr. Gladstone and Egypt--A legacy from Disraeli--Cyprus and the Berlin Congress--The "Comedy of the Liars"--The Anglo-French Condominium--Ismail--Nubar and Sir Rivers Wilson--Sir Evelyn Baring--Deposition of Ismail--Khedive Tewfik--Revolt--Arabi Pasha--Mr. Wilfrid Blunt--Labouchere and Egypt--Labouchere drops his burden of Egyptian bonds--A letter to Sir Charles Dilke--Labouchere and military occupation--The Egyptian Government and the debt--The champions of Arabi--Speeches in the House--The Soudan--General Gordon--Correspondence between Labouchere and Chamberlain; between Labouchere and Mr. Blunt--Letters from Arabi to Mr. Labouchere--A later letter to Mr. Blunt