FUTURE OF EGYPT

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 7

FUTURE OF EGYPT

RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN. STATEMENT BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT. CBt Cable—Prc*n A (isolation —Copynfr'r.t.) (Australian and X.Z. Cab'.p Association.) (Recoivod December Ith, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON', Deceml>er ■*. Highly important papers resisting t'ho negotiations with the Egyptian delegation have been published. '1 hey include, firstly, a memorandum of 'he proposaJs for a Treaty; secondly. Adly Veglien Pasha's letter rejecting tho proposals: thirdly, n communication handed to-dav hv the British High Crnnmisisoncr for Egypt to the Sultan, giving a comprehensive view of the negotiations and the British Government s observations on past, present, fiJid future relations with Egypt.

The British Government's eommnnicAtion points out lili.it one dominant factor which has governed the association of Britain and Egypt for forty year* must always govern it, namely, the clo«< coincidence botwoon Britain's irit«To*it-s in Egypt and the intercuts of Egvpt herself. The wholo territory of Egypt is essential to the m.tin lino communications l>etwoon Britain and 'her Ifc>minions in the East. ligypt's fortunes arc inseparable from tho security of tlio Suez (.'anal zone, and tho immunity •>£ Egypt from \ho dominant influeroo of nny other Great Power was of primary importance to India, Australia, Now Zealand, and tho Eastern colonies and dependencies of Britain. It affected the welfare and safety of nearly 3-50,000,000 British subjects. Egypt'* prosperity was important to them, not merely because Britain and Egypt were eadli other's beet customors, but boeiuise nny serious danger to the financial or commercial interests of Egypt invited intervention by other Powers and threatened her independence. There was no shadow of danger of exploitation of Egypt's rapid development. Britain did not seek financial gflin or commercial privilege.