THE SUDAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 205, 29 August 1936, Page 9

THE SUDAN.

STATUS EXPLAINED.

Administration Unchanged

Meantime.

NEW CONVENTIONS INTENDED

British Official Wireless. RUGBY, August 28. The Sudan clauses of the AngloEgyptian Treaty provide that the administration of that territory will continue to be that resulting from the agreements of 1899. The parties concerned are to conclude new conventions regarding the Sudan in the future and the question of the sovereignty of the Sudan is not prejudiced by the treaty. The security of foreigners in Egypt, the position of foreign officials and capitulations, form the subject of the concluding articles of the treaty. While the British Government recognises that responsibility for the lives and property of foreigners in Egypt devolves exclusively upon the Egyptian Government the latter undertakes that it will ensure the fulfilment of its obligations in this respect. The British Government recognises that the capitulatory regime is no longer in accord with the times and the present state of Egypt, and agrees, therefore, to support Egypt in an immediate approach to the other Powers with capitulatory rights, with a view to agreements on "the following points: —

(1) The disappearance of the existipg restrictions on Egyptian sovereignty in the matter of the application of Egyptian legislation, including financial legislation, to foreigners.

(2) A transitional regime for a reasonable and not unduly prolonged period to be fixed by agreement, during which the mixed tribunals will remain and exercise, besides their present judicial duties, the jurisdiction of the Consular Courts.

At the end of this period the Egyptiafh Government will be free to dispense with the mixed tribunals.

The Egyptian Government undertakes that legislation made applicable to foreigners will not be inconsistent with the principles of modern legislation, or discriminate against foreigners.

Egypt will apply for membership of the League of Nations and her application will be supported by the British Government. It is stated that the rights and obligations of both parties under the League Covenant, or the Pact of Paris are not prejudiced by the treaty and that any difference regarding the application or interpretation of its provisions which cannot be settled by direct negotiation will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Covenant. The treaty will not be ratified until the British Parliament has had an opportunity of discussing it. Ratification on the Egyptian side is expected to take place about November.