INDEPENDENCE OF SUDAN

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27471, 4 October 1954, Page 11

INDEPENDENCE OF SUDAN

Protest Against Visit Of Egyptian

(Rec. 8 p.m.) KHARTOUM, Oct. 2. The Sudanese Umma (Independence) Party would protest to the Egyptian and British Governments against the visit of Major Salah Salem, the Egyptian Minister of National Guidance, a party spokesman said tonight. Major Salem arrived in Khartoum two days ago for what Egyptian sources called “emergency talks” with Sudanese leaders.

The patron of the Umma Opposition Party, Sayed Abdul Rahman el Mahdi, considers the visit an “open breach” of the British-Egyptian agreement on the Sudan, the spokesman said.

The agreement provides for the creation of an atmosphere of strict neutrality during the three-year transitional period until the Government decides whether to become completely independent or have a union with Egypt. Sayed Mohammed Ahmed Mahgoob, the party leader, said Major Salem’s visit was an “insult to the dignity of the Government.”

Major Salem denied in Khartoum today that his visit involved any political aims, Cairo Radio reported tonight. Major Salem said the purpose of his visit was limited to the work of the Egyptian Government Agency for Sudanese Affairs. "We are under an obligation to keep strict neutrality during the transitional, period so that the Sudanese could say their word in complete freedom.” Major Salem said. He said: “Egypt wishes no more than to see the Sudane'se achieve their complete freedom and realise their aspirations and ideals according to the desire of the people.” Visit by Haile Selassie.— The Emperor Haile Selassie, of Ethiopia, will be welcomed to London for his threeday State visit on October 14 by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, it was announced today. The Queen and the Duke will greet him at Victoria Station railway terminus when he arrives from Portsmouth on the south coast and will act as his hosts at Buckingham Palace throughout his official stay.—London, October 2.