EGYPT'S NEW CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24034, 4 August 1941, Page 6

EGYPT'S NEW CABINET

A reconstruction of the Egyptian Cabinet gives the Prime Minister, Hussein Sirry, a composite Ministry representative of an overwhelming majority in Parliament. He has incorporated in it five Saadists, members of the party led by Ahmed Aly, who at one time strongly and repeatedly demanded that Egypt should abandon non-belligerency and take an active part in the war at Britain's side. Thus Hussein Sirry has obviously given his Cabinet a more strongly pro-British tone, and at the same time has equalled the degree of political unity achieved by Ms predecessor, Hassan Sabry. It ib true the Wafd Party still stands aloof, but so it did in Hassan Sabry's day. The most claimed on his behalf was that he looked like obtaining Wafd co-operation at one stage. The tone of the Egyptian Government is of importance to the British cause. Though little in the news lately, compared with the Arabic countries, Egypt is really the vital centre of the Middle East which Britain must at all costs hold. Here, to a certain extent, as elsewhere, diplomacy is conditioned by military success. When the Italians advanced last year to Sidi Barraui, there was considerable alarm, and dissension within the Government. General Wavell's success in Cyrenaica cured that situation, but it threatened to recur at the time of the enemy's counter-offensive. Recent events, particularly in Irak and Syria, may be assumed to have altered the tone of the Government in Britain's favour again, and with the newly-constituted Cabinet political stability should be assured.