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land tax. The Progressist party also had been so unreasonable in their demands for all kinds of reforms that no Cabinet could satisfy them. The Ministry, abandoned by its supporters, finally resigned. The resignation was brought about by the opposition of the three most powerful parties, led by Count Okuma, the Marquis Ito, and Viscount Shinagava. At the close of the year it was probable that a coalition Ministry would be formed with a vigorous foreign policy, and that the Marquis Ito coming again into power would be upheld by the naval and military officers who supported him in his former premiership, as well as by the general voice of the people.

The Mikado in his speech at the opening of Parliament (Dec. 21) stated that the relations between Japan and all foreign Powers were friendly, and that the revision of the treaties with European Powers would soon be completed. Fresh taxation measures and a bill for amending the Japanese law code were announced.

Japan was bound by the treaty of Shimoneseki to evacuate Wei-hai-Wei on payment by China of the outstanding balance of the war indemnity. On evacuating Port Arthur, Japan removed all its armaments and the excellent plant in the dockyard and arsenal, and destroyed the greater part of the fortifications. As to the German occupation of Kiao-Chau, Japan assumed indifference.

Formosa.-The unconciliatory ways of Japanese underofficials in their dealings with the Formosans and the duplicity of Chinese underlings, who were first employed as intermediaries, created some disturbance. It was unfortunate that the Japanese rulers were not able to speak the language. Trade remained much as when China possessed the island. It was being developed by the Japanese, but Chinese labour was essential to this development.

VI. SIAM.

The Khorat Railway was opened on March 27 by the King in person with much ceremony. The King of Siam, later in the season, made a visit to Europe. His name should read Kulalankaram, which means in Sanscrit, ornament of his race, but in England he was called Chulalongkorn. Very much to his disappointment, he failed in Paris to obtain the abrogation of a clause in the treaty with France of 1893 which declares the Cambodians, Anamites and the Laos on the left bank of the Mekong to be protégés of France. He returned in December to Bangkok from his European tour. It was asserted that, despite the artificial creation of French subjects, the British subjects in Siam entitled to ex-territoriality outnumbered the French by five to one, and that if the French were to discontinue their methods of registration in Siam they would regain much of the popularity that they have lost.

CHAPTER VI.

AFRICA.

I. EGYPT.

THE history of the year in Egypt was comparatively uneventful, though marked by the usual exhibitions of ill-feeling towards English rule. At the beginning of the year the French and Russian representatives forwarded a protest to the Khedive against the advance of 500,000l. made by England for the expenses of the Dongola campaign, but the protest had of course no political result. A little later on a somewhat angry discussion was roused in the French press by Sir Michael HicksBeach's outspoken remarks in Parliament regarding our rights and position in Egypt and by his criticism of the political influence of the mixed courts. But M. Hanotaux's reply in the French Chamber showed no disposition to stimulate an agitation against us. On the other hand, Prince Henry of Orleans repaid our hospitality and protection by publishing a characteristically unfair attack on our administration in Egypt, and the Khedive maintained the same discourteous attitude towards us, pointedly assisting the reactionary agitation in favour of Turkey, subscribing largely to the fund collected for the benefit of the Turkish Army, and decorating the editor of a German newspaper which was launched in the spring with a violent attack upon English influence in the country. But these, after all, were normal and familiar incidents in our ungrateful task. It is more satisfactory to remember that throughout the year the Khedive's ministers worked cordially with us, and that the Legislative Council, increased, on Lord Cromer's suggestion, by the addition of a third Coptic member, offered no serious opposition to the progress of reform.

In the financial records of the year the chief evidences of that progress were to be found. Early in February of 1897 the revenue returns for 1896 were published, showing an increase from customs, from tobacco, from salt, from railways, from the telegraph-in almost every department alike-and the largest revenue ever yet collected in the country. The excess of revenue over expenditure was 1,345,000l., but as by far the greater part of this surplus went into the clutches of the Caisse, and as the expenses of the Dongola expedition had to be placed upon the other side, even this great balance promptly disappeared. For 1898, the Government, in view of the expenses of the Soudan war, wisely estimated for no surplus at all. The Budget for 1898, presented by Sir Elwin Palmer to the Council of Ministers in November, estimated the receipts and the expenditure at the same sum, namely, £E.10,440,000. The receipts were expected to be better by £E.205,000 than in the Budget of 1897, and the actual receipts for 1897 justified

the assumption. The Budget allowed for an increase of £E.145,000 on war expenses and for £E.20,000 for civil expenditure in the Soudan. It showed that £E.440,000 would be paid to the Conversion Economies Fund, and that £E.344,000 would be paid into the General Reserve, that is into the hands of the Caisse de la Dette. This meant that the Powers of Europe had impounded some 6,000,000 of money, which was urgently wanted for the development of the country, but which no one could use for any purpose at all.

Equally satisfactory to our zeal and credit were the reports of the administration of justice. The statistics of the public prosecutor and of the native tribunals for 1896, published early in 1897, showed a satisfactory decrease in crime, the cases affecting public security in 1896 being only 1,352 as against 2,524 in 1895. Sir John Scott's report on the progress of the native tribunals, published about the same time, was also full of evidences of improvement. There are now forty-two courts of summary justice in Egypt, seven tribunals of first instance, two of contraventions at Cairo and Alexandria, and one supreme court at Cairo. The Khedive's School of Law, with its 100 pupils, supplies the magistrates needed. Sir John Scott was able to say that he found the independence of the judges increasing, although the courts of first instance still seemed to need the stiffening which Europeans only could supply. The native police, however, were improving. The summary punishment of perjury had added to the value of evidence. And the inspection of the judgments of the lower courts by a supervising committee had had a good result. The work of the summary courts was apparently increasing fast, there being 51,690 cases before them it 1896 as against 46,346 in 1895. In other respects also the administration of justice in 1897 showed some advance. One grave scandal, caused by a judgment of the Cairo mixed tribunal in favour of a dishonest official, led to the appointment of English presidents for two of the six chambers of the native court of appeal. The measure proposed some time ago by Sir John Scott for the reform of the religious tribunals, and approved by all the heads of the Mahomedan religion, received the sanction of the Khedive and his council. The native courts dealing with questions of marriage and inheritance were placed under the Minister of the Interior, and the Legislative Council unanimously voted the establishment of one land registry office under the same minister's control. These matters of comparatively little importance, were still indications of the steady progress of reform. In public works there was nothing of great account arranged during the year, although the appointment by the Government of an electrician to examine. for scientific purposes the cataracts of the Nile may possibly have large results. The Caisse de la Dette granted the Government 250,000l. for drainage works. The Cairo tram

ways were extended. A concession for agricultural railways in the Fayum Province was granted for the first time to a native syndicate; and in another field of adventure Dr. Borchardt made the interesting discovery that a royal tomb, found last spring by M. de Morgan, is actually the tomb of Menes, the founder of the first dynasty of Kings. The census taken on June 1 showed the population of Egypt, both native and foreign, to be 9,700,000 souls, and showed at the same time a considerable increase of Europeans in the provinces. But even more gratifying to us was an article which appeared in the summer in an Arab newspaper, written by the son of one of Arabi's followers, and replying to attacks made on the English occupation. Previously to that, the author points out, the taxes were nearly 51. an acre; now they are 30s. "The Mamours could insult, flog and imprison the Omdehs with impunity"; now the poorest labourer is free from the tyranny of even the greatest official. Formerly the officials all despoiled the fellaheen, monopolised the Nile water, and despised the law. Now the Khedive himself cannot touch another man's property; all share alike in the waters of the Nile; "no one is above the law." It was as rare as it was agreeable to find a native authority declaring that "such are the benefits of British occupation."

In the Soudan there were many rumours but very few incidents of war. One notable fact was the revival of trade and agriculture in the province of Dongola, in spite of the wholesale destruction of the date-trees under dervish rule. Another notable fact was the rapid progress of the railway through the desert, the line having reached Abu Hamed in October, and a further extension to Berber having been already begun. Early in August the only important blow of the campaign was struck, when Major-General Hunter captured Abu Hamed, after some severe house-to-house fighting, and completely routed the dervish forces there. Beyond that victory, however, no event of much importance occurred in the campaign. By the middle of September garrisons had been established along the river at Dongola, Debbah, Korti, Merawi, Abu Hamed and Berber. The steamers made reconnoissances as far as Metemmeh, which was found to be a very strong position, and engaged the forts there on October 31. But beyond that, the autumn was devoted to collecting stores and to making preparations, with a view to advancing on Khartoum in the following year. Farther to the east our negotiations with Italy led to an agreement for the surrender of Kassala to Egypt, and just before Christmas a body of Egyptian troops arrived at Kassala, and the Italians handed over the fort and its defence to them. In one other direction, also, our diplomacy showed some activity. In the spring an English mission, under Mr. Rennell Rodd, penetrated to the court of Abyssinia. In spite of French complaints, which went so far as to accuse us

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of conspiracy in having selected men of such lofty stature in order to impress the Abyssinian Emperor with our power, the expedition proved a complete success. It appeared to gratify the Abyssinian Sovereign, and it certainly facilitated an exchange of friendly assurances. In view of the many uncertain and dangerous elements which still surround our advance in the Soudan, anything which makes for peace and civilisation may be regarded as an unquestionable gain.

II. SOUTH AFRICA.

Cape Colony.-Sir Alfred Milner, K.C.B., was appointed in February the Governor of Cape Colony and High Commissioner for South Africa, to succeed Lord Rosmead who resigned on account of failing health. The appointment of Sir A. Milner gave universal satisfaction. For several years he had been Under-Secretary for Finance in Egypt, where he had a brilliant official career. He arrived in the colony early in May and met with an enthusiastic reception. Lord Rosmead left Cape Town for England on April 21.

The annual congress of the Afrikander Bund was opened at Cape Town early in March. It resolved to prepare a congratulatory address to the Queen on the occasion of her diamond jubilee. It took a decided attitude against Mr. Rhodes, declaring that he should never again sit in Parliament, and it rejected a proposal for an international conference between the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Colonial Afrikanders for discussing trade and other topics.

The Cape Parliament was opened by commission on April 2, and Mr. Rhodes left England for the Cape on April 3 to resume his parliamentary duties.

In the Assembly on April 5 Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, the Premier, said that the Government was satisfied with the policy of the Imperial Government for maintaining peaceful relations with neighbouring communities in South Africa, but the Convention of London which imposed conditions and obligations on both parties should be strictly adhered to.

Rumours of an opposition to be formed to place an antiRhodes policy before the electorate were in the air, and it was declared that Chief Justice Sir Henry de Villiers would become the leader of a pro-Dutch party uniting all the dissentient factions. Sir Henry de Villiers, however, on April 9 made a speech in the Cape Legislative Council disclaiming any association with a political party in opposition to Mr. Rhodes and aiming at the overthrow of British supremacy in South Africa.

In the Assembly, April 15, Mr. Du Toit, President of the Afrikander Bund, moved a resolution deprecating war between European races and expressing the conviction that peace could best be attained by the faithful and reciprocal observance of all treaty obligations. Mr. Rose-Innes, the leader of the Opposi

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