EGYPT’S RIGHTS.

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1921, Page 5

EGYPT’S RIGHTS.

BRITISH VIEWS. MUST THEY DETERMINE ALL? (Received December 4 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. Highly important papers respecting negotiations with the Egyptian delegation in London have been published. They include, firstly, a memorandum of British proposals for a treaty; secondly, Ally Pasha’s letter rejecting those proposals; thirdly, a communication handed to-day by the British High Commissioner to Egypt to the Sultan, giving Britain’s comprehensive view of the negotiations, and the BritGovcrnment’s observations on the past, present and future relations with Egypt. Tho British Government in its communication, points out that it considers there is one dominant factor which characterised the Governmental association of Britain and Egypt for 40 years, and must always govern their relations, namely a close coincidence between Britain’s interests in Egypt and the interests of Egypt herself. Britain says the whole territory of Egypt is essential to the main line of communications between Britain and her dominions and the East. Egypt’s fortunes, she considers arc inseparable from the security of the Suez Canal zone and for an immunity of Egypt from tho dominant influence of any other great power except Britain. Egypt’s position was of primary importance to India, Australia, and dependencies. It affected the welfare and safety of nearly 350 millions of British subjects. Egypt’s prosperity also was important to them not merely because Britain and Egypt were hitherto each others best customers, but because any serious danger to financial or commercial interests in Egypt invited intervention by some other powers, and would threaten Egypt ’; independence. There was no shadow of an idea of British exploitation f.f Egypt’s rapid development. BriU’’ did not seek any financial gain < commerce privilege.