EGYPT’S APPEAL TO U.N.

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 7

EGYPT’S APPEAL TO U.N.

SUPPORT GIVEN BY SYRIA

INCONCLUSIVE DEBATE IN SECURITY COUNCIL (Rec. 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 26. Syria to-day backed Egypt’s demands that the United Nations order the immediate evacuation of British troops from the Nile valley and put an* end to Britain’s administration oi the Sudan. Mr Faris el Khouri (Syria) said that Egypt had never been in a position to consent freely to the stationing of British troops along the Suez Canal, because when the 1936 treaty was negotiated British troops were scattered all over the Nile valley. He challenged the argument that Britain’s special interest in the Suez Canal warranted giving her special rights, saying that Russia for years had been denied rights to fortify the Dardanelles. , „ Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain) said that Mr el Khouri had. stated only the Egyptian case and had not taken Britain’s arguments into consideration. Colonel W. R. Hodgson (Australia) said 'that without the measures which Britain had been able to take under the 1936 treaty the Axis attack on Egypt could never have been stemmed. He pressed an Australian amendment that the Sudanese should be consulted in any negotiations affecting the Sudan’s future. This amendment, he said, was designed to cover every point on which the recent British-Egyptian negotiations broke down. Nokrashy Pasha, the Egyptian Prime Minister said that his Government objected to the Brazilian resolution (which provides that Britain and Egypt should resume direct negotiations to seek the solution of the dispute and should keep the Security Council informed of the progress of negotiations), but felt even more strongly opposed to that resolution with the Australian amendment attached. He favoured full consultation between the Egyptians and the Sudanese, but said it was a domestic issue which Egypt was not interested in discussing with the United Kingdom. The Council adjourned till August 28.