The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1925. INTRIGUE DE LUXE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 9 April 1925, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1925. INTRIGUE DE LUXE.

■ ■ % For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future 'in the distance, And the goad that toe can 40.

The device of winning a member's allegiance by promis j him a Ministerial or some other kind of post is by no means unknown in European or American or D6minion politics. Morality apart, however, a party leader is wise enough not to scatter these promises about. If Tie promised two waverers the same plum there might be complications when the timo came to allocate the prize. If, however, the story that the Cairo correspondent of the "Daily Express" tells to-day is true, Zaghlul Pasha, deterred by no such call of wisdom, recently involved himself in the most extensive political intrigue on record. It will be remembered that after; apparently being in a minority as a result of the elections, Zaghlul was elected President, and supporters of, his Vice-Presidents, of the Egyptian Parliament. Clearly many deputies had gone over to him. The "Daily Express" now states that no fewer than forty-seven deputies were promised Ministerial positions. Zaghlul's method Was to divide deputies into groups in different Tooms and tell each group, under pledge of secrecy, that he would shortly, be Premier, and that he intended to make certain appointments to his Ministry. The story goes that the deception was exposed through the simple, accident of iwo victims meeting over drinks. One lamented that the dissolution had deprived him of the chance of becoming Minister for Justice, whereupon the other declared that this was a lie; he was to be that Minister. Then the truth came out —"in vino veritas," in fact.

If the etory is true, it is a shining example of cleverness without vision. Zaghlul could hope to obtain office by this means and thereby gain a temporaryadvantage over the King and the British Commissioner, but what was to happen then? Hβ could not-satisfy forty-seven deputies with nine portfolios, and what would those think who went away empty? They would compare notes and be furious at the trick played upon them. As for secrecy, it has been said

that a secret is never safe with more than three people, and no one believes that it could, he safe- with forty-seven. If Zaghlul really laid -this elaborate plot, he has more cunning than wisdom. It helps to explain the obstinate folly of tho man in insisting on impossible conditions in the negotiations with the British Government — conditions which even Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald could not consider. And, while 'it may not justify all the dealings of recent British Governments with Zaghlul, it indicates that they have been right in regarding him as an enemy of his country. A man with so little wisdom and so little morality is not fit to be Premier of a country, especially when that country is passing through exceptionally difficult times. The outlook for Egypt is poor if she cannot obtain better rulers. Indeed, it lias long been foreseen that the twin dangers in Egypt if British control was relaxed would, bo intrigue and corruption. . The Egyptian of the official classes is a born intriguer, and one of his objections to British rule was that his opportunities in this direction were severely restricted. As for corruption, there is the history of Egypt before the occupation to show how deep and wide it can spread in that fertile soil. Already it is said the old evils of nepotism, corruption and general inefficiency in the public service, against which Cromer and his successors waged war so successfully, are beginning to bliow their heads again.