As a complaint coming from his mouth this arouses some amusement; the Colonial Office expressed itself satisfied to have received from so high an authority a testimonial to its efficiency which it had rarely gained from Englishmen.
The real change in the policy of the Empire must, however, be attributed not to any imaginary shortcomings of the English authorities; it was an inevitable result of the abandonment of the policy of Free Trade, and of the active support which the Government was now giving to all forms of commercial enterprise.

It was shewn, first of all, in the grant of subsidies to mail steamers, which enabled German trade and German travellers henceforward to be carried by German ships; before they had depended entirely on English and French lines.

It was not till 1884 that the Government saw its way to undertake protection of German colonists.
They were enabled to do so by the great change which had taken place in the political situation.

Up to this time Germany was powerless to help or to injure England, but, on the other hand, required English support.
All this was changed by the occupation of Egypt.

Here England required a support on the Continent against the indignation of France and the jealousy of Russia.