VIEWS ON POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 9

VIEWS ON POLICY

A WIDE DIVEEGENCE

MR. HENDERSON EXPLAINS

British Official Wireless. (Received 27th July, noon.)

RUGBY, 25th July.

In a statement in tho House of Commons regarding Lord Lloyd's resignation of the High Commissionership in Egypt, Mr. A. Honderson, Foreign Secretary, said that within a few days of his goinp; to tho Foreign Offlco a communication was received from Lord Lloyd. He read tho communication, and was very much struck by the language, and what he beliovod to bo tho spirit underlying it. He at once asked for the papers to bo handed to him, going back during the greater part of tho. time Lord Lloyd had been High Commissioner. "I must say," continued Mr. Henderson, ".that I could uot but be impressed with tho very wide divergence of the views manifested in those papers between tho position taken up by my predecessor in office and Lord Lloyd. I think I can say that there wero four or five occasions when the difference of opinion betweon my predecessor and, I suppose, to somo oxtent the Government, and tho High Commissioner was most marked." LLOYD OUT OF SYMPATHY. Mr. Hondorson gavo several instances where this divergence of view had been shown. It was these considerations which led to his predecessor, Sir Austen Chamberlain, issuing to Lord Lloyd on 28th May, two days before the General Election, a complete' rostatement of tho principles by which tho Government had decided to conduct the relations between this country and Egypt. An examination of tho papers clearly demonstrated that tho policy of Sir Austpn Chamberlain was a minimum of interference with tho intei-nal affairs of Egypt. "I want to say that very frankly," continued Mr. Henderson. "I rau through tho whole of tho proceedings as far as my predecessor was concerned. In numerous instances Lord Lloyd was clearly out of sympathy with this object. Having read theso papers and having very carefully considered the position I came to tho conclusion that the best thing I could do was to intimate to Lord Lloyd that tho Government was dissatisfied with tho position as it had obtained during the last three or four years. I mado this intimation to Lord Lloyd in the following note:— In the short time at my disposal since taking office I havo undeavoured to review in their broad outline tho sequence/ of political events since 1924. To bo quite candid, 1 feel bound to tell you that I havo been impressed by the divergence of outlook which has from time to 'inie been apparent between my prei c.essor and your Lordship. That this difference of outlook was possibly sincere I do not for a moment doubt, but I confess that it appears to me to be so wide as to be unbridgeable. The success of my policy which will certainly be uot less liberal than that of my predecessor' will depend on the extent to which it can bo interpreted with understanding and sympathy by nis Majesty's representative. In the light of recent correspondence I should bo lacking in frankness did I not warn you that tho possibility of your views harmonising with those of eithor my prcdeccss or myself appears to bo remote, and in tho circumstances I should like to discuss the situation with you on'your return. RESIGNATION TAKES PLACE. • "Lord Lloyd arrived in this country this day week. I saw Lord Lloyd last SWday, morning. We discussed the

position with cacli other not merely with frankness but with friendliness. Afto. wo had beou together half an hour Lord Lloyd handed mo his resignation." Sir Horbcrt Samuel (Liboral) said that the House was far more concerned to know whether any serious change of policy in our relations with Egypt was or had been contemplated. Mr. Churchill, ex-Chancellor of tho Exchequer, said that tho reading of tho correspondence between tho lute Foreign Secretary and Lord Lloyd had undoubtedly produced a wrong impresaion of tho actual relations botween tho parties concerned. Lord Lloyd, as tho man on tbo spot, facing difficulties and risks, naturally had his viewpoint. What was there in Mr. Henderson's oration to show anything but a healthy, active, reasonable discussion between tho parties. ME. MAODONALD EEPLIES. Tlie Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, paid a tribute to Lord Lloyd, who, ho said, went to Egypt under tho most difficult circumstances. Ho had a groat task imposed upon him when Sir Leo Stack met his death at tho post of duty. Lord Lloyd was askod to fill tho position, which was perhaps ouo of +ho most difficult in the British Empire, and ho accepted it. Ho did what he considered to bo his duty, but ho (Mr Mac Donald) claimed that tho Government in administering tho offieo of n Colony or Dependency must havo complete and full coniidenco in its representative. After a perusal of records. Mr. Henderson took tho action he did becauso he did not feel that full confidence in the High Commissioner which was necessary. Tho Government was going to ontcr into a full examination of all questions connected with Egypt, but nothing of a final decision would bo come to until the' House had agreed to its ratification. We know our responsibilities," said Mr. Mac Donald. "We know our position here. Wo shall just do what wo think tho interests of this nation and the interests of Egypt require us to do remembering all tho timo our responsibilities to this country." MILITARY ASPECTS. Tho Govornmont were exploring tho situation. Mr. Churchill had asked for v pledge that tho Government would not go beyond tho extreme limit which ho and his friends embodied in tho Sarwat Treaty. Ir connection with cacli of tho reserved points, said Mr. MacDonald, there were many proposals as to how the position should bo handled There was the question of tho military occupation of Cairo. ft. tho Sarwat Treaty it was stated that this might be revised in ten years, and then ovßry fifth year afterwards. "Is that tho last word m securing our communication through Egypt?" asked tho Prime Minister. If H is, wo havo como to a very bad impasse. Aro thoro no means or securing our communication throueh Egypt except that? If Mr. Churchill and his colleagues aro in any doubt about that, I will tell them that the whole matter, whilst 1 am talking, is being considered by tho throe Heads of the Services Departments." Mr. Mac Donald added that the same variety of possibilities was being treated with tho same cautiousness and only when everything had beeu explored and tin best proposal that could bo made had been devised would the instrument which was vital and to which tlie Government would commit itself make its appearance.