CANAL ZONE TALKS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27097, 21 July 1953, Page 9

CANAL ZONE TALKS

“Hasty Results Not Expected” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (B«e. 8 p.m.) CAIRO, July 20. The chief British military negotiator * he » B,| P«nded Brltish-ErypUan talks on the Suez Canal, General Sir Brian Robertson, warned against demanding any dramatic and hasty resuite from his arrival when he returned to Cairo last night.

General Roberston said that nothing had happened during his absence to al l?, r hls conviction that an amicable settlement between Britain and Egypt on the canal question was eminently to the advantage of both countries. ‘An agreement can be obtained satisfactory to both and taking account of Egypt’s sovereignty. An agreement can be reached if goodwill prevails between the two countries,” said General Robertson. The Egyptian Minister of National Guidance, Major Salah Salem, said today that he welcomed the return to Cairo of General Robertson, but Egypt could not be excepted to take the initiative in reopening the talks. A few hours before General Robertson returned from London last night the Egyptian Council of Revolution held an important session. Major Salem said that Egypt was still very keen on an early over-all settlement.

He said he welcomed the return of General Robertson, because “he may bring something new, particularly after the Washington conference.” Major Salem said he thought General Robertson might try to get in touch with the Egyptian Government, but he thought that after what had happened in Ismailia last week (when British searches were instituted after the alleged kidnapping of a British serviceman), “we cannot be expected to take the initiative in reopening the canal talks.” Observers expect General Robertson to try to establish informal contact with Egyptian leaders soon, to see whether the negotiations can be set going again to settle the outstanding differences. Comment in Cairo The newspaper “Al Ahram” said today that the first reaction to General Robertson’s statement that “it was possible to reach a settlement satisfactory to both countries” was that he has returned to Egypt with new instructions aimed at reconciling the Egyptian and British points of view. The newspaper added: “Egypt will only agree to a resumption of the 'talks if the obstacles which brought the earlier negotiations to a standstill no longer exist.”