FUTURE OF SUEZ CANAL ZONE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27035, 9 May 1953, Page 7

FUTURE OF SUEZ CANAL ZONE

Cairo Talks Reach Deadlock (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) CAIRO, May 8. The talks between Britain and Egypt on the future of the Suez Canal Zone have reached a deadlock. The British Ambassador (Sir Ralph Stevenson) yesterday handed the Egyptian Prime Minister (General Naguib) * communication from the British Government. He conferred with General Naguib for 20 minutes. The Egyptian Foreign Minister (Mr Mahmoud Fawzy) was also present. Egypt’s Revolution Command Council held a special meeting last night to discuss the deadlock in the talks. The Cairo newspaper, “Al Ahram,” reported that the council had laid down Egypt’s future policy if her demands for the unconditional British evacuation of the Canal Zone failed.

The Minister fo National Direction (Mr Fuad Galal) said the Cabinet supported the Egyptian delegation’s stand on the evacuation.

Another newspaper, "Al Akhbar," said: “We are not sorry the talks have been suspended, for the British alone will pay a heavy price. Nevertheless, we hope the West will see reason and advise the British to agree to Egypt’s viewpoint.” The newspaper, “Al Misri,” says that the unconditional evacuation of the British troops was a prerequisite for any understanding between Britain and Egypt It added that the Suez Canal base was Egyptian and must remain Egyptian: ‘‘lts maintenance and defence must be undertaken by the Egyptian Army. If experts are needed it is up to Egypt to select them. They need not be British.”

It said that to bring in the question of Middle East defence was an unwarranted attempt to widen the discussions.