The Times FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1938. Egypt

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 6

The Times FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1938. Egypt

liecause of its importance as a. vital link in the chain of Empire defence, especially since Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia and the militarisation of Lybra, anything that happens in Egyptian politics is “hot news.’ 1 Crises in the political arena of that country are almost as common as they arc in France, but until recently they have been allowed to pass -with the scantiest reference in the cabled news of the doings of a muddled world.

Until the death of King Fuad, British influence enjoyed a comfortable supremacy in Egyptian politics; and if it could not ensure tranquility it could at least prevent any development likely to affect British interests adversely. Fuad’s death removed a wise and cautious king and brought to the throne a young man who, to judge by recent events, is not remarkable for his political sagacity. Another and even more disturbing event was Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia and the massing of a large Italian army in Libya. It was suddenly borne upon Egyptians that British supremacy in the eastern Mediterranean was no longer secure and unchallenged and that Egypt was therefore in a position to drive diplomatic bargains.

Early in 1937 Nahas Pasha, Prime Minister and loader of the Wafd, considered the time opportune to renew negotiations for the abolition of Great Britain’s remaining special privileges in Egypt, and the British Government, sensible that its band had been weakened, conceded at the Montreux conference almost all that was asked. Nahas Pasha, who had made his political reputation by his enthusiasm for Egyptian independence, returned to Cairo a popular hero. But the combined effects of an overwhelming parliamentary majority and the resounding diplomatie victory proved too much for the AVafd leaders. Their programme of social reforms was forgotten; their administration was notable mainly for its corruption; and the lawlessness of their political army, the Blueshirts, became a standing disgrace. To make matters worse, Nahas Pasha soon fell out with King Farouk. The King objected to the efforts of Nahas Pasha to persuade Parliament to vote him a large political fund without specifying the purposes for which it was to be expended; Nahas Pasha objected to the King’s action in appointing Ali Maher Pasha, an opponent of the Wafd, to the position of royal adviser. The struggle between the King and his Prime Minister was transferred from the ante-rooms of the palace to the streets of Cairo by clashes between the Greenshirts, the political army of the Liberal Nationalists, and the Blueshirts. In January of this year the King took the bold step of dismissing Nahas and calling upon Mohammed Mahmoud Pasha, leader of the Liberal Nationalists, to form a cabinet. Since the new Prime Minister could command only a small minority of Parliament, a dissolution was necessary. At the elections in April the Wafd suffered an overwhelming defeat, attributable partly to the formation of a dissident Wafd group and mainly to the pressure exerted by the Government on the electors. Lt cannot be said, however, that the eclipse of Nahas Pasha has given any satisfaction to the British Government. For. in the first place, it is obvious from recent developments that the political situation is highly unstable. The Wafd still commands a very large measure of public support, and the action of the Government in falsifying the election results, far from consolidating its position, has actually increased the general unrvst. And unrest, at a time when Egypt’s favours are being sought by two rival groups of Powers, is highly dangerous. In the second place, there have been disturbing rumours of Italian influence over Mohammed Mahmoud Pasha and his colleagues in the Cabinet. Although these have been laboriously contradicted by Mohammed Mahmoud, it is probably true to say that the British Government would be happy to see the Wafd back in power.

A large sunfish, an unusual visitor to the Auckland coast, was stranded in the shallow waters of Huia Bay, inside the Manukau Meads and was secured with difficulty by Messrs W. Barr and J. Evans, who rowed out in a dinghy and towed it ashore with a rope.

) • Severe burns on the arms were suf--3 fered by Mr William Telford, farmer, ? o‘f Hufitly West, when some petrol i which he was pouring into a motor . vehicle, exploded. He was taken to the 1 Waikato Hospital, and his condition is fairly serious..