CONFERENCE FAILURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1930, Page 7

CONFERENCE FAILURE

ANGLO-EGYPTIAN TREATY

DEADLOCK OVER SOUDAN

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

(Received May 9, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 8.

Jhe Anglo-Egyptian Conference has broken down, the-Soudan problem having proved insurmountable. The negotiators were friendly at parting, and it was mutually agreed that a door had been left open for a resumption of negotiations when the atmosphere is more favourable. Nahas Pasha stated that he was grieved at the failure. There was nothing he wanted more than to be on good terms with the British. Makram Bey, the Egyptian Finance Minister, said it was very regrettable the negotiations' had been broken off, adding’: “We cannot sign a treaty, signing away the Soudan.” .

MR. HENDERSON’S STATEMENT [OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, May 8. The failure of the Anglo-Egyptian treaty negotiations was announced in the Commons this afternoon. In a brief statement, Mr. Henderson said: “In spite of the most sincere and friendly efforts on both sides, the negotiations have failed, ‘His Majesty’s Government not having seen a way to meet the demands of the Egyptian delegation in regard to the Soudan. I shall very shortly lay before the House a white paper dealing with the negotiations.” Asked whether the status quo was' meanwhile maintained, on the four reserved points, Mr. Henderson replied that that must be the inevitable result of the failure of the negotiations. The four points were reserved by Great Britain in the declaration of 1922 for future settlement. They were, firstly, protection of Egypt from foreign aggression; secondly, protection of British Imperial communications; thirdly, protection of foreign residents and minorities in Egypt, and fourthly, the Soudan. The recent negotiations arose out of the proposal for an Anglo-Egyptian Treaty settling these outstanding points, which were made by Mr. Henderson last August after, conversations in London, with Mahoud Pasha, then Prime Minister of Egypt. Mr. Henderson, in a covering note, described the proposals as representing the extreme limit which he could recommend the British Government to accept'. The present Egyptian Premier, Nahas Pasha, with his delegation, came to London at the end of March to conduct the negotiations on the basis of these proposals. After his brief announcement in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary who had postponed his intended departure this morning for Paris and Geneva, caught the afternoon boat train for the Continent. The Egyptian delegation are bxpected to leave London to-morrow. Although the discussions failed to produce an agreement they were conducted throughout in an entirely amicable spirit, It is understood that so far as the questions relating to Egypt were concerned an agreement had .actually been reached, .or was well within sight, upon all points at issue.

OPPOSITION CHEERS

LONDON, May S.

Mr. Henderson announced the An-glo-Egyptian Conference failure, amidst Opposition cheers, followed by ministerial cries of .“Shame,” “Disgraceful.” . : ‘ ’