BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1808, 29 November 1919, Page 9

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

NO INTENT TO CRUSH. THE UNREST ECONOMIC. MISTAKE OF EXTREMISTS. By Cable. — Pre** Association. — Copyright. Australian and ,N.Z. Cable Association. (Rcc. Nov. 29, 10.20) LONDON, Not. 25. In the House of Lords Earl Curzon, explaining the situation in Egypt, said the" unrest was funda-* mentally economic, but political agitators had fomented trouble. The Government had taken steps to ameliorate the labour conditions. The extremists received an impetus by a telegram that the American Senate had decided that Egypt should be considered independent. Actually, America recognised the British protectorate. Earl Curzon added that he could not encourage the idea of complete Egyptian • independence, because, firstly, geographically, it was at the door of Africa, and on the highway to India. Secondly, an independent Egypt could not stand alone against external aggression, nor guarantee strong internal government. There was no intention to crush Egyptian nationality. Quite the contrary was intended. Lord Milner's mission was intended as a preliminary work and would consult the Egyptians before the final Constitution was determined. Earl Curzon said the unrest was due especially to the high cost of living, but the unrest was exploited politically, foreign Socialists taking no small part in fomenting the discontent. The Government was doing its utmost to remove legitimate grievances. As the British protectorate was recognised in the Peace Treaty any nationalist expectations were doomed to complete disappointment. The keynote of Lord Milner's mission was the progressive development of self-governing institutions. Whatever form the Peace with Turkey took it would not alter the solution of the Egyptian problem. The TurcoEgyptian political connection had ended. Recognition of the British protectorate in Egypt was an inseparable feature of the Turkish Treaty.