Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/294

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EGYPT g^g EIOHStATT

the demand for the finer qualities of cotton, and "Egypt for the Egyptians became the rallying to avoid any recurrence of the financial depression cry even before the war, which, on account of the that invariably follows when the demand for the obnoxious protectorate, enhanced the movement product ceases, the Government took steps to against British dominion. The movement spread encourage the production of foodstuffs and to to the Bedouins of the desert, who joined the towns- restrict the cotton area to one-third of each holding, folk and fellahan in making trouble for the British. In 1919 the area and production of cotton was The Egyptians complained of the cruel treatment 1,574,000 feddans and 5,572,000 qantars (1 qantar= of native soldiers, the prohibition of the meeting 99j05 lbs.). The area under cotton in 1920 was of the Legislature during the war, harsh censorship 1327,868 feddans; the area under wheat, 1,146,715 of newspapers and political discussion in the state feddans. In 1919 the sugar exported amounted to schools, and the suppression of nationalistic activ- 12,689 tons, valued at £E. 654,656, and the cotton ities. They resented the increasing number of expprted to 6,708,906 qantars, valued at £E. 65,- British officials in the Egyptian Government, dis- 441,901. The foreign trade in Egypt in 1920 was liked the idea of the political subordination of the valued at 1914,233,898, an increase of $298,910,281, Moslem to Christian rule, as contrary to the spirit or of 48 per cent over 1919. The increase, how- of Islam, and in view of the scant consideration ever, is due largely to .advanced prices rather than received after the war, felt that their nation had to increased quantities. The imports in 1920 were made too many sacrifices during the struggle, valued at $507,701,557. The United Kingdom comes Their delegates decided to present tiieir case to the first in the amount of trade with Egypt, the United Peace Conference at Versailles, and after several States a close second. In 1920 the mineral produc- months of delay caused by their arrest and deporta- tion included 110,000 tons of phosphate; m 1918 tion by the British officials were not pnermitted to 282,000 metric tons of petroleum and 27,000 tons of state their case at all. In the meantime the in- iron ore. creasing disorders in Egypt caused the British

In March, 1920, there were (exclusive of sidings) Government to send General Allenby as High Com-

2330 miles of raOs worked by the State and 721 missioner to Egypt with full military and civil

miles of rails of agricultural light railways owned powers to restore order. He declared promptly that

by private companies. In May, 1918, Cairo was the policy of Great Britain was to develop the

connected by railway with the Palestine system by autonomy of Egypt under British protection. A

the completion of a swing-bridge over the Suez mission was sent to the country in 1920 under the

Canal at Kantara. The working expense of the presidency of Lord Milner to formulate plans for

railways represents an average of about 72 per cent the practical application of this policy. On 28

of the gross receipta By a decree of 18 October, February, 1922, an announcement was made, declar-

1916, the monetary unit of Ep;ypt was made the ing the British protectorate in Egypt at an end,

gold Egyptian pound of 100 piastres. On 1 April, and on 16 March Egypt was declared to be a con-

1920, the debt of Egypt amounted to £93,198,140 stitutional monarchy with the Sultan Ahmed Fuad

sterling. Work is proceeding on the Blue Nile Pasha as King.

Weir, but is suspended on the White Nile Dam, Catholic History.— In 1921 Mgr. Andrea Cassulo.

which was begun in 1914, forty miles south of titular Archbishop of LeontopoTis, was appointed

Khartum. The i*aising of the Assuan Dam was Apostolic Delegate to succeed Mgr. Birante. There

completed in 1912. The dam was raised sixteen are two vicariates apostolic in Egypt for Catholics

feet and the thickness increased about an equal of the Latin Rite, the Vicariate of the. Delta of the

amount. The capacity of the dam is increased Nile (q.v.) and the Vicariate of Egypt, erected

from 1,000,000,000 cubic meters to 2,423,000,000 cubic in 1839, and comprising at the present time Upper

meters, its depth from 65 feet to 88 feet, and the Egypt and the mission of Lower Egypt. In 1920 it

extent of the river affected from 140 miles to 185 contained 61,117 Catholics of the Latin Rite and

miles. 17,416 of other rites, 1382 of whom were served by

Recent Hibtobt.— Egypt declared war on Ger- missionaries of the Latin Rite. There were 94

many in August, 1914, and with the entrance of Latin priests, 245 Brothers, 469 Sisters, 17 parishes,

Turkey into the war, the English replaced the 8 succursal parishes, 27 residential stations, 55

Turkish suzerainty by a protectorate placed over churches, and 27 chapels.

the country. During the struggle the borders of For statistics of the Uniat Coptic Church see

Eg3rpt, especially around the Suez Canal, were the Alexandbia, Patbiabchatb of; Alexandbia, Diocese

scene of several military conflicts. In January, 1916, of; Hebmopolis, Diocese of; Thebes, Diocbsb op. the Sennusi along the western border involved the

defenders of Erayt in several minor militaiy en- Eichstatt (Eystadium), Diocese of (Etbtel-

sagements near Mersa-Matnih and near Barani. In lbnsis or Atstellensis; cf. C. E., V-364c), in

March of that year the Britiidi captured Solium, Bavaria, lies north of the Danube and is suffragan

which the Arabs had held since their invasion of to Bamberg. The diocese comprises about 200,000

Egjrpt in 1915, organized the conquered province Catholics. There are 214 parishes, 488 churches, 10

into a separate administrative area and named it mission stations, 1 abbey and 8 monasteries for

the Western Governate. On the eastern frontier, men and 1 abbey and 58 monasteries for women,

around the Canal, the Turkish armies under Ger- with 816 Sisters. The secular priests number

man leadership were particularly active, engaging 375, regulars 43, of whom 22 are in monasteries,

in several encounters near Tussum (2 February, There is 1 seminary at Eichstatt, which has a

1915), and at Quatia Oases (23 April, 1916). At philosophico-theological academy with 10 professors

Kati (4 August, 1916) the British troops, composed and 66 students. In the diocese there are 2 Latin

of Australians and New Zealanders, unaer Sir Archi- high schools (VoUgymnasium with 9 years' course),

bald Murray, succeeded in inflicting a decisive de- 2 high schools iHalbgymnadum with 6 years'

feat on the Turks. The year 1918 witnessed the course), 5 scientific high schools (Realschiden, 150

great outbreak of the revolutionary movement to 250 students; one has over 350 students), 1 nor-

which had been simmering in Egypt for several mal school (6 years' course, 112 students), 1 normal

years. Throughout the war Egypt was the training- school for girls conducted by the English Ladies

ground of the British territorial regiments, the (6 years' course, 96 students). All these schools

Indian. Australian, and New Zealand troops, receive support from the Government. In every