188 Egypt
Gorst by then broken the power of nationalism that he
was able to secure the murderer's execution by ordinary
process of law. For Gorst was no weakling, and an in-
crease of crime with a reappearance of brigandage,
both directly attributable to the unrest caused by the
Nationalist agitation, was successfully repressed. His
'f exile laws,'' with their penalty of internment in criminal
colonies among the oases of the western desert, much
impressed the imagination of the lawless. So that there
was no commotion when his coup de grace was given to
Nationalist agitators by the reimposition of the Press
Laws (1919) and by the repression of inflammatory pro-
paganda. Mustapha Kamil had already burnt himself
out and died (1908), and the conflagration he had
kindled, though it still smouldered and now and then
flickered up, was thereafter mastered, and no longer a
serious menace.
Gorst's policy was to detach from the ranks of the
extremists anyone capable of useful co-operation by offer-
ing him a career. As early as 1893, when Adviser to the
Interior, he had instituted the Local Commissions and
mixed Municipalities. He now gave increased powers,
notably in educational affairs, to the Provincial Councils.
A more real responsibility was given to the Legislative
Council; but as it at once used them to come into con-
flict with the native Ministers , the Council was again
pushed into the background. Even the General Assembly
was roused from its long sleep, and asked to give a real
decision. For the Canal Corporation had proposed that
Egypt should extend its concession by forty years in
return for an increased share in the profits. The British
Government readily agreed, and so very reluctantly did
the Egyptian Ministers. The Nationalist Press violently
opposed. Gorst referred the matter to the General