BRITAIN AND EGYPT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20991, 2 April 1930, Page 9

BRITAIN AND EGYPT

PROPOSALS FOR A TREATY. NEGOTIATIONS OPENED. (United Preaa Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 31. The Egyptians, in sombre morning dress with red fezzes, sat on one sidei of the Locarno room at the "Foreign Office and 27 British representatives occupied the other side. The vital concern of the dominions was exemplified by the attendance of Mr Wilford and Mr Casey (Australian haision officer). Youth predominated among the Egyptians. No references were made by Mr Henderson or Nnhas Pasha at the opening of the conference to the security ■Of the Suez Canal except by inference in the presence of Mr Shaw (Secretary for War) and Lord Thomson (Secretary for Air), supporting Mr Henderson. j,Xr Henderson said that the occasion was of especial significance in the relations of the two countries which had come together, first, to strengthen the League —that great organisation which the nations were building up to establish world peace —and second to seal by treaty the friendship between two peoples whose interests in so many respects were identical. There bad been failures in the past, but he refused to countenance the possibility of failure on this occasion. His Majesty’s Government was much gratified to observe that the spirit of friendship and goodwill which had prompted its offer last August had been reciprocated by Egypt. He looked forward to seeing thp relations between Great Britain md Egypt secured on a basis of permanent friendship. Nahas Pasha, replying, referred to the generous sympathy which had prompted the British Government in making proposals for an Anglo-Egyptian treaty to which it-was his pleasing duty to make public homage. Egypt had responded to Britain’s conciliatory intentions w.ith eJjual goodwill. He felt convinced that an agreement satisfactory to both sides wohld be reached. Previous failures m no way discouraged the Egyptian delegation. ■ The representatives of the two countries then retired behind closed doors to wrestle with. their difficulties. DINNER PARTY TO DELEGATES. (British Official Wireless.) r RUGBY, March 31. Mr Henderson gave a dinner this evening at the Foreign Office in honour of the Egyptian delegates, who arc in London to negotiate a treaty with Britain. Mrs Arthur Henderson gave a dinner party in honour of Madame Makram Eheid, wife of the Egyptian Finance Minister.