EGYPT AT WAR

Evening Star, Issue 15643, 6 November 1914, Page 1

EGYPT AT WAR

AN IMPORTANT- PRECEDENT. The interesting news comes via India that Egypt is at war with Germany. The position" of Egypt was a very peculiar one. Strictly speaking, it is a vassal State of Turkey, but practically it is a British protectorate. The real ruler is Lord Kitchener's deputy, but his official title is only Ilia .Majesty's Agent and Consul-General. According to the- correspondent in Egypt of the Indian 'Pioneer,' Egypt has been in a state of war with Germany since August. Ho writes: "On that day the German Consul-General accredited to the Court of Abdin called on the Regent and drew his attention to the fact that, although this country had declared its neutrality on the 4th August, it was occupied bv troops belonging to a Power that was at war with his Germanic Majesty. At the same time he asked for a fresh declaration of Egypt's intentions. Of course, the Resent could no nothing but reply that under,the circumstances Egypt considered hmolf to be at war with Germany, and a decree to that effect was at once signed and promulgated. By that decree the defence of Egypt is entrusted to the British military and naval forces, who are given the right to take whatever eteps with Egyptian waters and Egyptian territory the necessities of war may dictate. Everyone in Egypt is forbidden to transact business with German firms resident in Gcrraanv or their agents, and all arc called up->n to render every assistance to the British forces. In addition, it is laid down that all prizes captured on Egyptian soil or in Egyptian waters shall be subject to the "rules and decision of the British Trize Court. The exportation of certain articles declared contraband _is forbidden, and German vessels in Egyptian porta at the time of the declaration of hostilities are given up to the 14th August to leave Egyptian waters. This declaration has not "aroused as much comment as mi'dit perhaps have been expected. It is a notewo'-thv step in the history of the Land of the' Pharaohs, for it emphatically recognises the British occupation of Kgvpt, and establishes the precedent that British and Ottoman forces are the sole protection to which the country can look. As a matter of fact. British forces have before this protected Egypt, but that was in 1906. when Turkey wanted to encroach on her eastern frontier, and Great Britain stood up to the Suzerain for the rights of the vassal S, ( ;vte. The two instances are not quite parallel, therefore, especially as todar Turkev has formally declared her neutrality We may therefore regard the decree ji'ist issued a-s an important precedent, which is hound to have an effect on the future status of Egypt."