AGITATED PERIOD

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 9

AGITATED PERIOD

EGYPTIAN POLITICAL OUTLOOK

SUDDEN FALL OF NEW GOVERNMENT

PARLIAMENT OPENED AND DISSOLVED

A record for the shortest duration of any Parliament has been established in Egypt. The newly.elected Parliament there opened at 10 o’clock in the morning with a display of grandeur, and at 7.45 in the evening was dissolved by a decree which, it is reported, “came like a thunderbolt.”

Thlegraph.--Press Association Copyright Cairo, March 23. The usual grandeur marked the opening of Parliament by King Feud, who was loyally greeted by crowds en route. Lord Allenby, the High Commissioner, made an imposing figure in his FieldMarshal’s uniform. The ex-Premier, Zaghlul Pasha, took his seat in the Chamber amid profound silence. The Prime Minister, Ziwar Pasha, read the Speech from the Throne. It reiterated the deepest regret for the murder of the Sirdar, and expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the crime would soon receive a merited punishment and Anglo-Egvntian relations again become habitually friendly. It was trusted that, thanks to the good understanding betwet < Parliam:#it and the Ministry, the latter would succeed in removing the charges and restrictions arising from the British ultimatum, so that when its task was accomplished it could seize a more favourable occasion to resume its negotiations in the effort to secure the complete independence of Egypt and the Sudan. In a manner conforming witli the evidence of Egypt’s right and the justice of their cause, the Government would seek the admission of Egypt to the League of Nations. Following the opening of Parliament, Zaghlul Pasha was elected President of the Chamber by 125 votes to 85.— Reuter. London, March 23. The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” says that Egypt appears to be on the threshold of an agitated political period. The new Parliament opens In an atmosphere of uncertainty both as regards the relative strength of the parties and the immediate future. The Governmenr is sanguine of obtaining a vote of confidence, but should that fail or Zaghlulist tactics completely obstruct business, it will not hesitate to ask for a dissolution.—“ The Times.”

SUDDEN DISSOLUTION DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT (Rec. March 24, 7.40 p.m.) Cairo, March 23. Parliament has been dissolved. The end came with dramatic suddenness, the Premier stopping proceedings in the Chamber by reading the decree, which was received with vociferous cheers by the Zaghlulists. The House emptied rapidly. Zaghlul, who was standing with a grave countenance at the head of the gangway, was hastily summoned. The dissolution is due to the King declining to accept the resignation of Cabinet following upon Zaglilul’s election as President of the Chamber.— Reuter.

“LIKE A THUNDERBOLT” (Rec. March 24, 8.30 p.m.) Cairo, March 23. Parliament, which opened at 10 o’clock this morning with such grandeur, ceased to exist at 7.45 this evening, doubtless constituting an historical record for the shortest duration of any Parliament. Though it was semi-offici-ally given out several days ago that dissolution would be inevitable if the Government were faced with an adverse majority, the decree came like a thunderclap. When the members emerged from the building they found a strong force of steel-helmeted police drawn up inside the gates, and another force outside, while both ends of adjacent streets were controlled by , mounted olice. The members dispersed quietly. The decree fixes the elections for May 23, and the new Parliament will assemble on June I.—Reuter.

HOW THE CRISIS AROSE ZAGHLULISTS IN MAJORITY (Rec. March 24, 8.55 p.m.) London, March 24. The political situation in Egypt is explained by the following circumstances :—The Government at first regarded Zaghlul’s election as President of the Chamber in place of the Governmetit nominee as no more than a personal compliment; moreover, Zaghlul, in taking his seat and thanking the House for its confidence, said: "As President of the Chamber I shall not represent any particular party, but the Constitution and the law.” The Chamber afterwards, however, elected two Zaghlulists as first and second VicePresidents, they receiving 121 and 119 votes respectively. The full House comprises 214 delegates. Ziwar Pasha thereupon decided to resign. It seems clear that a number of delegates elected as Independents or anti-Wafd maintained adherence to the Wafd organisation. Zaghlul since the elections has persistently maintained that many candidates claimed by the Government as anti-Zaghlulists would support him in Parliament. Events prove this io be correct.

Apparently Ziwar Pasha's Ministry will govern without Parliament until June. It remains to be seen how far the new contests will alter the situation.

The "Daily Herald’s” political cone sprrident describes the dismissal of the Chamber as high-handed, and says: “Apparently in no event is a Zaehhil Government to be allowed to take office. The' Egyptian people may have a Parliament only on condition that they elect members who arc subservient to the occupying Power. The correspou dent, however, leaves out of account the event which resulted in the downfall of Zaghlul’s last administra-tion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.