ALEXANDRIA RIOTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 11

ALEXANDRIA RIOTS.

ACTION BY BRITAIN. battleships on the way. (NAIIAS pasha warned. SAFETY OF FOREIGNERS. JOINT RESPONSIBILITY. By Tel egraph—Press Association--Copyricht. LONDON. July If,. Tn <he House of Commons to-day tho Prime Minister. Mr. Mac Donald, stated that in view of the menace to foreign life, and property in Alexandria two British battleships had heen ordered to that port, namely, t lie Queen Elizabeth and the Kamillies. ' As a result of the rioting at Alexandria yesterday the. High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir I'ercv Loraine, had informed tho ex-Prime Minister, Xahas Pasha, that ho would bo hold responsible with tho Egyptian Government for the protection of foreign lives and property. As early as June 4, when tho present constitutional crisis in Egypt first showed signs of developing, the British Government. had instructed the High Commissioner that his attitude must, he ono of nt.ricfc neutrality, but, consistently with that position, it. was left to his discretion to remind both parties to tho dispute that Britain was doing all in her power to maintain the good atmosphere in which the treaty negotiations had terminated. Sir Percy had mado statements in that sense to King Euad and to Nahas Pasha, who expressed his gratification. Since the formation of the present Government. in Egypt Sir Percy had made it clear that the British Government intended to adhere to its attitude of neutrality and non-intervention in what appeared to it to be a purely internal issue for the Egyptians themselves to decide. No other attitude was possible to bo consistent, with tho declared intention of tho Biitish Government in 1922 and, Mr. Mac Donald said, his Government would continue to maintain it to an extent compatible with Britain's international responsibilities. Before the news of the deplorable events at Alexandria had reached London the Hiah Commissioner had been instructed to make it quite plain that the British Government did not intend to be used as an instrument for an attack on the . Egyptian constitution. In consequenco Britain could be no party to an alteration in the electoral law, even if precluded by her declaration in 1922 from actual intervention in an internal issue of this nature A message from Cairo says it is officially announced that the casualties in the riots at Alexandria included one European and 13 natives killed and eight Europeans and 113 natives wounded. The Italian Consul has protested against the death of an Italian from heart failure after being struck a blow on the head. AVAFDISTS ABEESTED. FURTHER DISTURBANCE. MOB STONES HOSPITAL. (Received July IT, 11.5 p.m.) ALEXANDRIA. July If?. Several memhei'3 of the YVafd Committee have been arrested pending an in quiry into yesterday's disturbances. To-day a mob stoned the public hospital in consequence of the authorities' refusal to allow tho removal for public burial of the bodies of those killed in the rioting. KING FUAD ASSAILED. LABOUR PAPER'S CHARGES. ALLEGED ANTI-BRITISH BIAS. (Kecei/ed July IT, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON. July 17. The Daily Herald to-day makes a remarkable attack upon King Euad of Egypt whom it. calls " this I'tiad. The paper says he has consistently plotted against Parliamentary Government and tried in every underhand way to destroy the chances of a friendly settlement between Britain and Egypt. The Britisl Government, however, will safeguard the lives and property of foreigners, but will not allow either force or influence to he used in support of the King against the people.