EGYPT TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 247, 18 October 1926, Page 15

EGYPT TO-DAY.

THE TURKISH STRAIN. INSTINCT FOB GOVERNING. COUNTRY NOW PASSIVE. No. 11. f The opposition to Zaghlul mainly came from two other classes; upholders of the King to whom Zaghlul had always been openly disloyal; and the section of the people with a Turkish strain in them. These latter are Egyptians through and through, but represent in a way what the American of British origin is in tho United States. They have an innate instinct for governing and most Moslem Egyptian officials of any pretensions to administrative ability come from this class. The Palace party, as it has been called, attempted through Hassan Nashat Pasha, who was at the time the acting president of the Royal Cabinet, to curb Zagljlul's growing influence. Zaghlul, aware of this, addressed the country in a way clearly understood by bis followers, and the students soon began to cry that the constitution was in danger. He threatened to resign, knowing that the King would not be able to accept his resignation. His position became stronger, and in brief Zaghlul was all powerful until the crimes of his over-ardent followers culminated in the'murder of the Sirdar in November, 1924, aud lie had to resign. Thereafter his position as the supreme leader of the nation was badly shaken, the actual government was undertaken in an unconstitutional way— necessitated by the state of the country —by Ahmed Ziwar Pasha, a non-party man himself, but who had the support at the outset of all anti-Wafd parties. He displayed great common sense during the following eighteen months, allowing the administration to be car- ! ried on without political interference and I ensuring a eooling-off period to parties to enable them to review the situation, j This unconstitutional period, however, was not without its faults, and abuses were alleged against Nashat Pasha in i his royal zeal. Complaints, too, were made against the machinations of the Ittihad party —the Unionists— and the Constitutional Liberals resigned in consequence from the Ziwar Cabinet. Nashat Pasha's policy was attacked by Abdul Aziz Pasha Fahmy, former Minister of Justice and leader of the Constitutional Liberals, and the whole country was worked up to demand a remedy for the situation.

Zaghlul's Climb Down,

Lord Lloyd, who arrived in Egypt as High Commissioner in October, 1929, took a firm stand on essential points, but showed a spirit of great toleration towards legitimate national aspirations. Party passions were restrained, and Nashat Pasha was transferred to Spain as ambassador. Hie \\ af.l puny. tinConstitutional Liberals and the' other opposition parties began to agitate rightly for the resumption cf parliamentary government and for the holding without further delay of the postponed elections. Zaghlul hitherto had refused to tolerate the existence of any parties. Egyptians must acknowledge no other party but the Wafd, and no other leader but Zaghlul. He found it necessary now to climb down from this pedestal. Pourparlers were entered into with the Constitutional Liberals and the ultra-extremist party of the Nationalists. A meeting of all the Opposition parties took place in November, "1925, at the Continental-Savoy Hotel in Cairo, and a bond was made to fight for rescuing the Dustour and the . return to parliamentary government. At the National Congress held in February last this policy of united action was endorsed.

The result of the elections held in May last was the utter rout of the Unionists, the resignation of Ziwar Pasha, and an overwhelming majority for Zaghlul and his allies. Encouraged by hU success, Zaghlul announced his intention to assume the premiership and his own henchmen clamoured for his return to power and the resumption of a policy of intransigeance. Lord Lloyd made known unmistakably the limitations of tne-ir power, wiser counsels prevailed, and the leader of the Constitutional Liberals, Adly Yeghen Pasha, became head of the, new Government, Zaghlul being appointed president of the Chamber—the equivalent of Speaker in the House of Commons. Though not in the Cabinet, he is still leader of the Wafd party. In the present Cabinet the statesmanlike qualities of both Adly Pasha, the Prime Minister, and of Sarwat Pasha, the Foreign Minister, are recognised by all and are a guarantee of moderation during its lifetime, whilst the financial ability and industry of Sidky Pasha (who, though not in the Cabinet, has certain scope as senior member of the Commission dealing with the Budget) form a hopeful asset for efficient administration.

Lessons of History.

The Wafdists, with their leader under restraint, though in numerical superiority, are not the decisive factor in the Government. The Constitutional Liberals may be trusted not to tolerate any anti-British campaign, but rather to carry out honestly a policy of AngloEgyptian co-operation. Zaghlul himself is compelled for the moment to reconcile himself to the adoption of this policy under his unwilling aegis, and his own followers have to obey his dictum.

Apart from occasional outbursts in the Nationalist—the extremist papers demanding a resumption of the fight against the British authorities, the Press in general is quiet; and so long as Zaghlul remains passive the country will continue peaceful. His present chastened mood will probably allow the period of .inspired agitation to taper off within a few years to an era of steady progress under normal democratic lines. He is an old man—over 74; and there is no likelihood of any successor bein°accepted to dictate his will in the man" ncr that the leader of the Wafd has done.

What has helped, too, to bring the country and Zaghlul to appreciate the folly of the past is a belated realisation of the alternative to British control. They have hitherto wished to be blind to the lesson of history which shows that Egypt has always been under the influence of whatever country has exercised naval supremacy in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean. Their danger has now been brought home to them by the French policy in Syria and Morroceo and the Italian Imperialistic policy in the Near East and Abyssinia.