REVISION OF TREATY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 9

REVISION OF TREATY

DIFFERING VIEWS ON SUDAN WAFDIST PARTY’S ACTIVITY

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 17. The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” says a revised British-Egyptian Treaty seems as far from conclusion as ever. The two sides are still unable to reconcile their viewpoints on the Sudan and resort to the United Nations is increasingly thought preferable to this apparently interminable dispute. It might be otherwise if the public knew what the realities of the differences were, but ignorance is bedevilling the situation.

Ever since the opening of the negotiations, unauthorised versions of protocols and interpretations have been circulating and have been debated with little regard for their authenticity.

Reports that King Farouk is considering the formation of a coalition government are groundless. They are the product of the beaver-like activity of the Wafdists who, desiring Nokrashy Pasha’s downfall in favour of a Prime Minister of laxer principles, rest neither day nor night, first to convince the British that Egypt will never be bound by a treaty signed by a government that excludes the Wafdists; and second to persuade the Egyptians that the British will sign no treaty except with a government that includes the Wafdists.

Unfortunately this sedulous propaganda has not been without effect, but Nokrashy Pasha has King Farouk’s full support.