PAST RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 127, 2 June 1927, Page 9

PAST RELATIONS

EFFECT OF THE SUEZ CANAL ! Ever since tho niurdor of Sir Leo Stack at Cairo on 19th Novembor, 1924, Egypt has been in a more or loss disturbod state, even though Britain has kept a firm hand on the military con- | trol of tho country. Any evont similar to the present happening has a serious bearing on European affairs, more particularly to England, because Egypt occupies a very important position w i relation to the Suez Canal, which pro

vides a direct road to India and the as well as to Australia ana New Zealand. The famous canal was built by a iTench company between 1854 and 1869, out Britain obtained a controlling interest in 1875, and it has since become an essential portion of the main artery of the British Empire. To protect it against outside attack, Britain acquired control of most of the adjoining territory, including Cyprus in 1878, £gypt in 18S2, the Sudan in 1599, and Palestine in 1919. Although there is an alternative route to Now Zealand and the South Seas round the Cape of Good ■Hope m South Africa, the communication through the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea is deemed absolutely vital for trade. DOMINATED BY TURKEY. Egypt, at one time dominated by the Turks, became virtjtflly independent in leOo, when Mohammod Ali, who had been first of all appointed by Turkey, refused to surrender his office as Pasha or Governor of Egypt. Mohammed Ali, who was a shrewd, illiterate man of Albanian descer^ broke down all opposition in Egypt itself by destroying the Mameluke organisation, which haci survived through tho period of Turkish rule. With a very practical combination of the methods of Eastern despotism and of Western military and economic organisation, he built up a strong Power. Only the intervention of several luropean Governments prevented him from capturing Constantinople, and perhaps from placing himself upon the Throne of a strengthened Ottoman Empire. Kepressed and reduced in his old age, he nevertheless secured tho hereditary autonomy of Egypt. Ali's grandson, Ismail Pasha, after beginning moderately, proceeded to extravagance and waste, in which he exhausted the credit of Egypt and increased taxation to the limit. He sunk millions in the early building of the Suez Canal, wars in the Sudan and Abyssinia, and the purchase from the Sultan of the title Khedive, or Viceroy, and the right to transmit lis title to his eldesff-son. Matters came to a crisis in 1876, when French and British bondholders induced their Governments to intervene. A dual financial control was established, which in various forms lasted for eight years, and during this period Ismail was deposed and succeeded by his son, Tewfik. Under the leadership of a native Egyptian, Arabi Pasha, a revolt took place in the Egyptian army as a protest against the Turkish and Circassian officers, who were fay- I oured at the expense of the Egyptians, i There was, however, distinctly present in the movement tho beginning of nationalistic feeling, suppressed at the time, but constantly cropping up since. The French and British Governments intervened at the time, and this brought about a rising in Alexandria in which a number of Europeans were killed. France declined to act, but a British na^ al force bombarded the city on 11th July, 1882, and some weeks later British troops were landed at Ismailia. Arabi P'-'ia was defeated and Cairo occupied, which began the occupation of Egypt by British troops, which has lasted for ove- forty years. At times France has been very hostile, and in 1898 the "Fashoda incident" nearly brought about war between the two countries. Britain found rebellion and disorder in the Sudan in 1882, and at the time was more inclined to withdraw than go to the expense of restoring order. When, however, France conceived the idea of connecting her African holdings from west to east across tho continent, the British realised that, the Sudan possessed considerable value, if only for the fact that the Nil«, which is the very life of Egypt, has the greater part of its source there. Lord Kitchener, with a mixed British and Egyptian army, took possession of territory covering nearly a million square miles, which -has since become known as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The form of government was called a "Condominium," the head being a British officer who held tho two positions of Gov-ernor-General of the Sudan and Com-mander-in-Chief 01 the Egyptian Army. Under him were governors of extensive provinces' who were also Englishmen, minor officials only being oither Egyptians or Sudanese. BRITISH POWER GROWS. By cautious and gradual extension of its authority, the British Administration of Egypt, which for some twentyfour yoars was headed by Lord Cromer, directed every branch of the Egyptian Government. Under Lord Cromer the irrigation system was extended, the population increased rapidly, and the country reached a high level of prosperity. In the first decade of the present century the nationalist feeling again made itself felt, and it was further encouraged by revolutions in Persia anil Turkey between 1900 and 1909. In order to cope with the trouble Lord Kitchener established a Legislative Assembly, which ho hoped would give the natives somo semblance of government. When tho Great War broke out, Britain announcod that Egypt had ceased to bo subject to Turkey in any way, and constituted a regular British protectorate accordingly. The Khedive, Abbas Hilmi, was declared deposed and his uncle, Hussein Kamel, was appointod to succeed him with the title of Sultan of Egypt. During tho course of the ! war the nationalists gained in strength, though they woro careful to avoid action that would hindor Britain in her prosecution of the war. Just before tho war concluded a strong desire for indeendonce was expressed, nourished by lie Allies' declarations in favour of j

small nations with self-determination. Two days after the Armistice, Zaghlul Pasha called upon the British High Commissioner, Sir Reginald Wingate, and asked to be allowed to go to London in the interest of complete autonomy for Egypt. The request was refused, and from then onwards popular agitation has increased rapidly until to-day it provides the greatest problem ever faced by Britain during her occupancy of the country. A SOVEREIGN STATE. Under Lord AUenby, who succeeded Sir Reginald Wingate as High Commissioner, an attempt was made to bring about a reconciliation, and a British Commission under Lord Milner went to Egypt to investigate conditions, but nothing came of it. Troubles continued, resulting in violence in 1921, Zaghlul Pasha being later deported in an attempt to stabilise the position. The British Government eventually issued in 1922 what is known as the "Declaration Concerning Egypt," the most important clauses of which were as follows:— _"1. The Britsh Protectorate over Egypt is terminated, and Egypt is declared to be an independent sovereign State. ... "3. The following matters are absolutely reserved to the discretion of His Majesty's Government, until such time as it may be possible by free discussion and friendly accommodation on both sides to conclude agreements in regard thereto between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Egypt: (a) The security of the communications of the British Empire in Egypt; (b) the defence of Egypt against all foreign aggression or interference, direct or indirect; (c) the protection of foreign interests in Egypt and the protection of minorities; (d) the Sudan. Pending the conclusion of such agreements, the status quo in all these matters shall remain intact." Ift accordance with the declaration King Fuad assumed the title of King and a Constitution was drawn up and accepted. Zaghlul Pasha waß made tho first Prime Minister, and the first Parliament was assembled on 15th March, 1924. Unrest and disorders continued, however, and a plot was discovered which had for its objective a revolt against the British suzerainty. Zaghlul again went to London, this time to wait upon the Labour Government, which was then in power, but he returned without having secured the independence he desired. Several Cabinet changes followed, and Zaghlul himself threatened to resign, and later was com•p'elled to. Students from the university created a diversion by N leading those disaffected in an attempt to express the national thought, but they got out of hand and the whole disastrous incident culminated with the assassination of Sir Lee Stack in Cairo on 19th November, 1924. This caused Britain to issue an ultimatum which has been sufficient to keep the country in check ever since, and only recently has a further attempt been made by those expressing nationalist opinion to secure independence.