THE NEW EGYPT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 6

THE NEW EGYPT.

BRITAIN'S WITHDRAWAL.

DIFFICULTIES AHEAD.

(By MARC T- GREENE.)

n. CAIRO. British troops are remaining at Alexandria, under the terms of the treaty, for eight years, though in Cairo for one only. Nevertheless, they cannot withdraw to the Canal Zone until the barracks and other arrangements are complete there, all of which is to be done by Egypt, also under the treaty. Certainly one year, possibly two, will be too little for all this work. So that the presence of English soldiers in and around the cities is apt to continue for some time yet. Moreover, in as much as many things may happen in the meantime, there are not a few foreigners in Egypt who predict that the removal will never come to pass.

British control of the police forces of the two cities will, in effect, also continue for some time longer. Both these provisions are not at all to the liking of the extreme Nationalists, but their chief source of grievance is the Capitulations, concerning which a conference of the Powers is expected to take place shortly at Montreaux. This is as vexing a question as ever that of extra-territoriality was in China, and until it is settled there is no real assurance of a continued peace in Egypt. And if it is not settled at the coming conference there is every probability of further rioting ar.d trouble making on the part of the "students," otherwise extremist agitators and Anglophobes. rather than actual members of the university undergraduate bodies. The Capitulations. The Capitulations, merely another name for judicial extra-territoriality, include the Egyptian mixed courts, consisting of three tribunals of first instance and a court of appeal, and the right of the Capitulatory Powers to pass upon all legislation relating to foreigners in Egypt, especially as to taxation, and they have existed in Egypt from time immemorial. The Capitulatory Powers axe all those having interests in Egypt, except the Central Powers whose Capitulatory rights terminated with the Great War never been renewed. The mixed courts consist of no less than 45 judges representing a dozen nationalities. America has her representation, too, with four judges, of which, however, one has resigned, and has not been replaced pending the outcome of the aforesaid conference.

The position of the great majority of the Wafd party,on the Capitulations is that so long as they exist Egypt's independence is in name only. They point, for example,, to a_ recent case when three men were tried _ for murder, an Egyptian, a Greek and an Italian. The first was convicted and banged, the others sent hack to their own- countries, there to escape with «hort prison terms. Likewise, on the civil side, an Egyptian lends money to another who cannot pay. The property ic to he seized, when behold, a third person, a foreigner, appears and claims that the debtor's goods belong to him. and therefore, linden the Capitulatory arrangement, cannot be seized by an Egyptian. That transfers the litigation to the Mixed Court, and the creditor usually loses his money.

On the other hand, the Egyptian native courts, prisons and the whole machinery of jurisdiction, especially criminal, is at present a long way from being in line with European standards. Therefore it is inconceivable that the abolition of the mixed, and of the Consular, courts, can come at one time as a result of the pending conference. Nothing is more certain than that the Capitulatory Powers will not agree to such a drastic change, even should, England' herself. The change, if any, must toe gradual. Even the most enlightened of the Egyptians themselves admit that. But gradual changes are not in line with the ideas of Nationalist extremists and agitators in Egypt any more than elsewhere, and there is much reason to apprehend more%trouble when the. students, who in Egypt go on "strike" or resort to violence at the. least excuse, find that their demand for instant and complete abolishment of judicial extra-territoriality in Egypt is not likely to succeed. < Professional Trouble Makers. The greatest threat to an enduring peace in Egynt.. even now that Britain has granted so much, is this same "student" horde, unite ps in China. It is they who made the troubles last year, as often before, and their psychology is well illustrated'by an incident just the other day when, having heard a rumour that Moslem.* were l>eing discriminated against in some matter of religious privilege in the Sudan, they "struck" at the universities in Cairo. that is to say. refused to attend elapse*, until a message came from Khartoum declaring the rumours false. These young men. with hundreds of idlers and professional trouble makei.s who always endeavour to huddle under the same banner, will have to be dealt with firmly by the new (aovernment if Egypt is to become a united and stabilised nation. An Tercel by a possible failure of the Capitulations conference, or even by a compromise as a result of it. thev will very likely succeed in breaking tip the United Front, which really pained the country its practical independence. In such a case Egypt is certainly fated f-.r just such a period of division and deterioration as prophesied by the extreme pessimists at the moment.