THE SUDAN.

Evening Star, Issue 19276, 15 June 1926, Page 6

THE SUDAN.

lx the Speech from the Throne, at the opening of the Egyptian Parliament last Friday, it was announced that Egypt had not abandoned its claims to the Sudan. The future of tin's great area, which was once exploited shamefully by Egyptian rulers before the protecting hand of Britain was stretched over the country, was one of the four points reserved for future consideration when Egypt in 1922 was declared an independent kingdom. The Sudan is potentially a rich land, and it is not surprising that covetous eyes should he cast on it from Cairo. Of the four reserved points this is the ono that causes tho greatest amount of agitation. The Sudan is regarded as a rich prize, which should he pressed for immediately, while tho protection of foreign interests, the defence of Egypt, and tho security of Imperial communications, the other matters in reserve, can he discussed in a more leisurely way. Notwithstanding tho terms of tho self-government settlement, King Fuad has been hailed in tho Cairo streets as “King of Egypt and the Sudan.” Yet tho status of tho Sudan was, by the British declaration, “ absolutely reserved to the discretion of His Majesty’s Government until such time as it may no possible by free discussion and friendly accommodation on both’ sides to conclude agreements between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Egypt.” The people of Egypt, having been granted much, want more, but they are not likely to accomplish their desires. The policy of the British Government is to extend tho measure of self-government just as far as it can be used with advantage to the country and the people. The position in Egypt to-day suggests that an enlargement of the powers that have been granted would bo a very unwise proceeding. Under the present arrangement tho Sudan is administered by a GovernorGeneral, who is helped by a council nominated from amongst tho officials of tho Government. This system has worked well. Order was brought out of chaos, and justice, according to British standards, replaced the rule of corrupt officials and fanatical desert chiefs. In the matter of production immense strides have been made. Tho country is very productive, provided that water can bo supplied, and the efforts of the Administration have been largely directed to irrigation. It was found by experiment that cotton would grow admirably under a proper system of cultivation, and the Gesdra irrigation scheme, which included the construction of an immense dam at Makwar, has enabled large areas to bo put under cotton. Many other commodities are produced in the country, but the results so far obtained in cotton growing suggest that it will become the principal industry. The huge reservoir at Makwar will fill during low Nile, that is November, and the impounded water will be used for irrigation from the middle of January to the middle of April. It is no arranged that there will bo no trenching on the natural supply of Egypt. Tho cultivable land in the Sudan is estimated at 35,000,000 acres. The area that will bo irrigated by the Makwar clam is 3,000,000 acres, and it is stated that the whole of this area could be devoted to cotton production. Tho amount produced already is considerable, and American cotton planters are apprehensive, for within a few years they may be called upon to face an additional supply of 2,160,000 bales. This, an expert asserts, would spell ruin In the American cotton planter. There can no doubt that the prospects in the Sudan arc most encouraging. Three things are necessary to success in addition to the actual production. These are transport facilities, an adequate labor supply, and high quality in the cotton. On these points confident statements are made, and if the present far-sighted policy is continued an important Empire industry will he developed.