EGYPTIAN FERMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22922, 28 December 1937, Page 8

EGYPTIAN FERMENT

Egyptian independence is one thing, but the capacity of the Egyptians to govern themselves is another. It is of the highest importance that there should be stability in Egypt at the present time, for on one side there is Arab unrest that would flame up into fanatical frenzy against the Palestine Administration and the Jewish section of the people but for active measures by British forces, and on the other, Italian Lybia, which has been garrisoned far beyond apparent need. The Egyptian political crisis of the moment may be a purely domestic matter. What has been described as heady political hashish works quickly in that land of ancient sorrows, particularly among the Moslem student class. Though this class is a small and ill-educated minority, the Moslem schools not providing balanced instruction of any scope, it can be noisy and violent, and is capable under favourable circumstances of arousing the fellaheen to excesses of dimly comprehended purpose. The cry used to be Egypt for the Egyptians, but by the great majority it can, under excitement, be interpreted as Egypt for the Moslems. Thus in all political ebullitions there are liable to be side and inner eddies driving the public mind hither and thither. The present quarrel is between the ruling Wafd Party and the young King. But it may readily give rein to a hundred latent sinister influences. In 1921 it should be recalled the Egyptian police failed to restore order in the murderous outbreak in Alexandria, and the Egyptian Government itself asked that the British Forces should act. Will greater native capacity be shown now V Developments in the next few days will be watched with great interest in many countries.