WARSHIPS SENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1927, Page 7

WARSHIPS SENT.

CRISIS IN EGYPT.

Political Tension Caused By

Extremists.

BRITAIN'S DUTY

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, May 31. The British battleships Barham and Malaya, whieh have been ordered to proceed from Malta to Egypt, are expected to reach Alexandria early on "\V ednesday.

The battleship Royal Sovereign will arrive at Port Said on the same day.

The Barham flies the flag of ViceAdmiral W. A. H. Kelly. No other warships are under orders for Egypt.

In view of the present political situation in Egypt the dispatch of these three vessels was considered advisable as a precautionary , measure, as by the declaration of 1922 Britain is responsible for the safety and protection of foreigners in Egypt.

The political tension appears to be very largely the artificial creation of the extremist members of the Wafd party, designed to strengthen their own position. This was clearly shown last week when in the Egyptian Parliament the Wafd deputies made a recent visit paid by the High Commissioner, Lord Lloyd, to Minia, the occasion for a concerted and obviously pre-arranged onslaught.

As a matter of fact Lord Lloyd went to Minia at the invitation of 1500 loyal notables. The occasion was marked by expressions of mutual friendship and esteem.

In the Egyptian Parliament the extremist deputies violently attacked the notables for issuing invitations to the Government officials who were present. They also attacked Lord Lloyd for hie remarks.

Another uncertain element in the situation is the recommendation of the Egyptian Parliamentary War Committee regarding the Egyptian Army. The defence of Egypt from foreign aggression is one of the points in the British declaration of 1922.

British officers have hitherto managed to prevent the discipline of the army from being undermined by political unrest and the recommendation of the committee was undoubtedly designed to make it the tool of a political party. This would make it useless, for one of its main functions is to support the police in the maintenance of order.

The disturbance of that order, as was shown as recently as 1921, directly involves a threat to foreign lives and interests.

The defence of Egypt is of as much interest to Britain as to Egypt. Therefore close collaboration between the armed forces of both countries is obviously of mutual advantage.

The British Government is perfectly ready to conclude an agreement to ensure that co-operation.