ANGLO-EGYPTIAN TREATY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 11

ANGLO-EGYPTIAN TREATY

TERMS FOR-NEXT TWENTY YEARS EGYPT A SOVEREIGN STATE BRITAIN'S INTERESTS SAFEGUARDED (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, August 2D. The Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, signed in London this week by Mr Anthony Eden (Foreign Secretary), and Mustapha Nahas Pasha (Egyptian Prime Minister), substitutes a close and equal alliance for the former status of Protectorate and protecting Power, It ends the 50-year occupation of Egypt by British forces and makes Egypt a sovereign State, bound by Britain to a close alliance. By it relations between the two countries will be stabilised for the next 20 years: and it- is provided that, even should the terms be revised at the end of the 20-year period, the alliance must be maintained. Generally speaking it has been welcomed by the British press, although there have been one or two instances in which the Government has been criticised for weakening Britain's capacity to protect Egypt " at the very moment when it ought to be strengthened." On the other hand it is pointed out that the military and naval clauses do not sacrifice any of British interests, and will enable Britain to defend the safety of her Imperial communications. The negotiations have doubtless been facilitated by the recent events in East Africa, which have radically transformed the whole setting of Egypt, and impressed upon the most ardent nationalists of "that country that a completely independent Egypt cannnot stand alone in her unique position between east and west; and that she cannot dispense with a powerful ally who, in preserving her own Imperial interests, preserves also the interests of Egypt. SUEZ CANAL PROTECTION Under the clauses for the protection of the Suez Canal it is provided that Britain may maintain land forces up to 10,000 and air forces not exceeding 400 pilots in the Suez Canal zone. The Egyptian Government's part of the bargain will be to provide barracks and landing grounds, construct strategic roads and improve railways. British troops now in Egypt will be withdrawn to the Canal zone only when the strategic works have been completed to the satisfaction of both parties. Those in Alexandria will remain for a maximum period of eight yean;

Both countries undertake not to adopt an attitude or conclude a treaty inconsistent with the alliance; to consult in the event of any dispute with a third Stale; and to come

to the aid of the other in the event of war or threat of v/ar. The aid to be furnished by Egypt to Britain in time of war or international I emergency includes all facilities for air, sea and land forces and the I imposition, if necessary, of martial law and censorship. "Facilities for j sending British reinforcements are j to be available. No member of the | British forces is to be subject to the I criminal or civil jurisdiction of the 1 Egyptian courts in any matter arising out of his official duties; and British camps in Egyptian territory are to be inviolable and subject to the exclusive control of the British authorities. The Sudan is to be administered jointly by Britain and Egypt, in accordance with the agreement of 1899, but subject to possible new conventions. HISTORIC CEREMONY A colourful scene was presented in the Locarno room at the Foreign Office when the treaty was signed. The signatories entered the great room talking together and sat down at an immense oblong table, decorated by five water jugs and glasses, inkstands and pens. A battery of kinema and photograph men occupied one end of the room, and whenever anything was happening it was done to the steady hiss of the kinema camera. The crimson tarbooshes of the Egyptians gave a bright touch in countenance with the cream and gold room. Among the spectators was Sir James Parr, New Zealand's High Commissioner. Translations by the interpreter into English or French followed each speech, and after these were over two documents were put in front of the representatives? the treaty that remains in London and the duplicate which goes to Egypt. When signing the latter the Egyptians all used the pens provided on the table, but for the former they all used a gold fountain pen which Nahas Pasha unscrewed and used, and then passed to the next signatory. It was rolled across the table to the delegates on the other side, and so to the five British. Mr Eden was about to sign with an ordinary pen when the Egyptian Premier pointed with a smile to the gold pen which an Egyptian was holding up, and the attendant who was going round with the documents and lemon-coloured blotting i paper hurried along with the pen, j which Mr Eden duly used for his \ signature and returned with a bow ! to the Egyptian Premier. ! " I have seen it said that the treaty marks the end of an epoch in Anglo-Egyptian relations," said

Mr Eden, in a speech during the ceremony. " I would prefer to regard it as the beginning of a new stage. During this stage the relations between our two countries will be largely governed by the provisions of this treaty and the articles to which we are to-day setting our signatures. ... I can assure you that in putting this treaty into effect his Majesty's Government will be guided by the same of cooperation as that by which they have been actuated during the recent negotiations. I am confident that the Egyptians will fulfil the treaty with equal loyalty."

Nahas Pasha said: "By putting her name to this historic treaty, Egypt, cradle of glorious past civilisation, puts her hand into the hand of the gr§at and free England, thus opening a new era in the relations of East and West."