TREATY WITH EGYPT

Evening Post, Issue 86, 8 October 1936, Page 16

TREATY WITH EGYPT

JUBILATION FELT

LEADER ON THE FUTURE

The finishing touches were given to the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty when Mr. W. E. Beckett and Makram Pasha Ebeid met to draw up the final clauses, of which the most important was that concerning the formation of Cour,ts to try British troops after the signature of the Treaty, said "The Times" on August 14. Mr. Beckett and Mr. Hopkinson leave for London by air, taking the documents to the Foreign Office, while Sir Miles Lampson, the High Commissioner, sails from Port Said.on Sunday. The non-Wafdist members of the Egyptian delegation sail shortly, and the others by a later ship, all meeting in Paris and proceeding to London.in a body. The final meeting of the British and Egyptian delegations for the initialling of the remaining clauses of tl;e .Treaty took place in the Antoniades Palace in : aji;f : atmosphere) of^gre^tibilatjon., AH; ithe imembers realised that • they" had accomplished a task which; had .baffled their predecessors. . .. In a statement.to "The Times" correspondent Mustapha P.asha Nahas, the Prime Minister, said:-----"I am very pleased at the success whichvhas crowned our v efforts to bring our two; countries closer together, and towards the establishment of an; alliance, which will not merely stand the test of the present international diculties, but, I am sure, of all future eventualities. The Treaty closes a regrettable chapter of misunderstanding between the two countries, in which, however, there has not been hostility or bitterness. It has always been the Wafd policy to work for an alliance between Great Britain and Egypt, countries which have so much in common. The failure of previous attempts has never shaken pur confidence in our eventual success. OPENS A NEW ERA. "The Treaty opens a new era of understanding and peaceful co-opera-tion between Egyptians and foreigners generally, and there will be no discrimination against foreigners, who will live here: as. our guests on an equal footing with Egyptians. I must express my deep appreciation of the personal efforts of Sir Miles Lampson, who is not merely a true interpreter of the British Government's sentiments, but addedhis own sympathetic understanding to the three difficulties we had to overcome. To him and ■to Mr. Eden a great part of the credit for the successful issue of the negotiations is due. I am looking fonyard with pleasure to our impending visit to London." After their London visit most of the members of the Egyptian delegation intend to take a well-earned holiday. So it.is unlikely.that the Treaty will be placed before Parliament before the autumn; but ratification is certain, with the possible exception of Mohammed Pasha Mahmud, the Liberal leader, who has signed the military and capitulations clauses under reserve. The delegation represents all political parties, and Opposition criticism, which has formerly prevented negotiators from signing such a treaty, is now impossible. LITTLE REJOICING. Although. the Press expresses jubilation and= triumph over the success of the; Treaty negotiations and the entire country is naturally overjoyed, there have not been the displays of popular enthusiasm that one expected on such a historic occasion. Probably, however, the necessary arrangements have riot yet'been' made, and a popular outburst will take, place when the delegation sails on Monday. Inaccurate details of the capitulations agreement continue to obtain great prominence in the Egyptian Press, which obviously obtained them "from official sources.": Thus the impression persists that the capitulations will be abolished by unilateral Egyptian action immedi' ately after the signature of the Treaty. In spite of fears expressed in .the more conservative circles among British and foreign residents, thinking people realise that a final settlement of AngloEgyptian relations and the signature of the Treaty of Alliance and Friendship is the .best possible course. It relieves the British Government of many anxieties,. allows Egypt to relinquish her overwhelming interest in politics of the past: two decades, and devote attention to pressing internal reforms. Much'prominence is given in dispatches from London to the initialling of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, said the Rome correspondent of "The Times. Though there is as yet practically no comment in the Press it is clear that Italy is interested in the question of capitulations. Great Britain is judged to have come well out of the negotiations so far as she herself is concerned. The wish is expressed, however, that no attempt will be made to argue that the ample concessions granted to Great Britain, may be treated as sufficient compensation also for the other Powers interested*