Disorder in the Sudan.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 8

Disorder in the Sudan.

In themselves the disorders in tho Sudan do not seem to be serious; though it is probably the case, if there have been twenty casualties, that the troops nipped worse trouble in the bud. But the incident proves that Egypt's claim to the Sudan is going to be pushed by fair means or foul. The Sudanese themselves love Egypt as genuinely as bullocks love a bullock-driver. From early in last century till the eighties they suffered every agony from Egypt that one nation can suffer at the hands of another—murder, rapine, flogging, and slave-raids —till the population was reduced from ten millions to two, and sucli civilisation as they had was obliterated. Even to-day, nearly half a century later, the Sudanese have not recovered from the blighting influence of that occupation: they have regained their martial confidence, in spite of a second conquest by Britain and Egypt combined, but. they have no political ideas, and socially are with "yester"day's seven thousand years." A special correspondent of "The Times" who was in Khartoum in Juno found two and only two important facta to report: one was that there was no political atmosphere, and the other that the people thought with blank dismay of the withdrawal of the British. The Sudan at present is under the joint control of Britain and Egypt, the former being tho real administrator, the latter tho paymaster of the army of occupation. <AII that can be ealled progress comes from our own race—education, training in tho art of self-govern-ment, the application of science to agriculture, the opening of channels of communication from Khartoum to the remotest outpost. The territory is divided into fifteen provinces, each under a Governor who is "not merely a "British official, but an official who has "proved to the satisfaction of superior "authority that he is competent to fill "a post where personality, firmness, "tact, patience, and initiative leavened "by a shrewd common senße are the "primary qualifications." Eaeh province is divided into districts under British Commissioners, and each district into sub-areas controlled by native assistants. Tho whole territory is gradually being made aware of the meaning of law and order, of the advantages of peace, and of the necessity of economic foresight, and if Cairo were to get sole control progress would cease. But of course Cairo has no more claim to control Khartoum than Khartoum has to control Kenya. The Egyptians say that they cannot be. independent unless they are mado masters of the whole j Nile valley—that the Sudan is a part of Egypt geographically, and the Sudanese j kinsmen of the Egyptians racially. Tho , answer is that Egypt would hardly be master in her own house if Britain did not protect her, and that the Sudanese are neither of the same race as the Egyptians, nor supporters of the same aocial system, nor adherents (except in the extreme North) of the same religion. They say that they have paid for the Sudan, and it is not denied that they have paid for the upkeep of the army; but this is merely a premium on an insurance policy guaranteeing their frontier, and is a very small sum compared with what they would have to pay if the Sudan were in hostile hands. And in any case all Egypt has spent on the Sudan is a mere fraction of the wealth she plundered from it during sixty years of misrule. The destiny of the Sudan is in tho last resort a question for the Sudanese, and we have indicated already how. they feel. The probability ia that the more intelligent Egyptians do BOt want the Sudan, and it is a fact that Egyptian soldiers and Egyptian administrators strongly dislike being sent into the territory on duty. It is the raee-eonscious and politically conscious fanatics who cry out for the withdrawal of Britain—and their noise should not disturb Downing Street.