BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 7

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

*■ TRUSTEESHIP TO CONTINUE. VITAL TO EMPIRE'S SAFETY, WHY NEGOTIATIONS FAILED. GUARANTEES REFUSED. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Received 7.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Deo. 3. Highly important papers respecting the negotiations of the British Government with the Egyptian delegation' have been published. They include, firstly a memorandum on proposals for a treaty; secondly, Adly Pasha's letter rejecting .the proposals; and thirdly, a communication handed to-day by the High Commissioner in Egypt to the Sultan, giving a comprehensive review of tho negotiations and the Britisli Government's observations on its past, present, and future relations with Egypt. Tho British Government's communication points out that the one dominant fact that has governed the association of Britain and Egypt in the past 40 years and must always govern it, is the close coincidence between Britain's interests in Egypt and the interests of Egypt herself. The whole territory of Egypt is essential to the main lino of communications between Britain and her Dominions in the East. Egypt's fortunes are inseparable from the security of the Suez Canal zone. The immunity of Egypt from the dominant influence of any other great Power is of primary importance to India, Australia, Now Zealand, and Britain's colonies and dependencies in the East. It affects the welfare and safety of nearly 350 millions of British subjects. Egypt's prosperity is important to them, not merely because Britain and Egypt are each other's best customers, but because any serious danger to the financial and commercial interests of Egypt invites tho intervention .of other Powers and threatens her independence. There has been no shadow of exploitation in Egypt's rapid development. Britain has sought, neither financial gain nor commercial privilege. The outbreak of war necessarily made the association of Egypt and Britain closer. Many thousands of British subjects from India, Australia, and New Zealand, in addition to those from Britain, were maimed or killed. Their graves on Gallipoli and in Palestine and Irak stand witness to the great effort which Turkish intervention cost" the British Commonwealth. Covered by their ranks, Egypt passed scathless through the period of ordeal. The British Government is unable to accept the arguments of the Egyptian delegation concerning British troops. Neither the present condition of the world nor' the course of events in Egypt since the armistice permit any modification of the disposition of British forces. There are sigqs that elements of the Egyptian Nationalist movement even now are capable of plunging Egypt back into the abyss from which she has been raised. The British Government's anxiety on this point is aggravated by the unwillingness of the Egyptian delegation to recognise that the British Empire must have firm guarantees against such a ynenace. The presence of British troops in Egypt is the first and foremost and the Government cannot waive nor weaken it. British claims in this respect are not intended to involve the continuance of an actual or virtual protectorate. On the contrary,' Britain proposed to terminate the protectorate forthwith and to recognise Egypt as a sovereign State under a constitutional monarchy. Britain's hope was that Egypt, with a reconstituted Ministry for Foreign Affairs, would have despatched her' own representatives to foreign. courts, and Britain would readily have supported her application for admission to the League of Nations. Egypt's rejection has created a new situation. It will not affect the principle of British policy, but necessarily it reduces measures which can now be carried out. Britain will continue unshaken in her aims as Egypt's adviser and trustee The true line of advance for the Egyptian people is co-operation with the Empire, not antagonism thereto. The Government is prepared to consider any methods which may be suggested for carrying out the substance of their proposals whenever the Egyptian Government so desires.