The Suez Canal was first proposed by a Frenchman, in 1852, and a company was formed, the money being mostly subscribed in France. The Canal was opened in 1869, and has been a great and inestimable boon to the shipping of all nations. In 1875, Britain obtained an interest in the Canal also, by the purchase of shares. Now Egypt has brought in a law to nationalise the Suez Canal Company as from 26th July last. Britain protested against this action in conjunction with France. But without repeating all the facts in the case, well-known to readers, we would note what has been stated elsewhere, that Egypt’s word cannot now be trusted. She has repudiated the concession of 1869 to the Suez Canal Company and a treaty with Britain as recently as 1954, which guaranteed freedom of navigation through the Canal to ships of all nations in peace and war. As is recognised, in many matters, what is true of an individual is true of a nation. And when a man wittingly breaks his word and promise to his neighbour, he is untruthful, dishonest and not to be trusted by others. This is true of Egypt as a nation regarding her conduct in connection with the Canal.
Of course, the ruler and people of Egypt in the days of Moses have their true to type offspring in Colonel Nasser and the Egyptians to-day. Pharaoh was conspicuous for breaking his word. Yet the Lord reigneth in all these events; and we as a nation, with others, are obviously being chastised for our own particular national sins by such occurrences in the providence of God.