*73 Egypt
questions of importance in future/' and to substitute as
Premier the British nominee, Riaz, for Fakhry, already
appointed by the Khedive.
Cromerism had thus publicly humiliated the young
Khedive in his own eyes, but had not hurt him in the eyes
of his supporters. Indeed, Riaz, recognising that
Egyptian opinion was supporting Abbas in his stand
against the British, at once went over to his side. Abbas
himself, breaking finally with Cromer, went to Constanti-
nople with a deputation of village sheikhs to appeal for
support to the Sultan. But Abdul Hamid knew his limita-
tions better than did Abbas, and little more came of the
venture than a deepening of the breach with the British.
The next move of the young Khedive was even more
adventurous and even less well advised. It was nothing
less than an attempt to detach the Egyptian troops from
their British officers. During a tour of inspection up the
Nile to Wady Haifa, Abbas, to quote Lord Cromer,
c * poured forth a stream of childish criticism on every-
thing he saw. He insulted British officers. He did his
utmost to sow dissension in all ranks of the army"
(Abbas II., p. 51). It was a blow at a very tender spot,
but one that exposed Abbas himself. Kitchener, the
Sirdar, at once submitted his resignation. Cromer, armed
with instructions from Rosebery, demanded the dismissal
of Maher Pasha, the Khedivist War Minister, and
dictated to the Khedive another declaration of de-
pendence. Abbas, deserted by Riaz, the French, and the
Turks, none of whom wanted a resuscitation of militarist
nationalism, was forced to publish in the Official Journal
that he was " heureux de constater les services rendus
par les officiers anglais a mon arm&e." (January 14,
1894), Without accepting the story that the Khedive
only submitted on being shown from the window the