EGYPTIAN ARMY CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1927, Page 7

EGYPTIAN ARMY CRISIS

INTERNAL INTERFERENCES FRESH PLEBISCITE URGED ULTIMATUM NOT INTENDED (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 30. Lord Lloyd, British High Commissioner, last night handed to the Egyptian Primo Minister, Sarwat Pasha, a firm but friendly Note, designed to remove various misunderstandings which have existed for some time past in regard to the Egyptian army. The immediate cause of its presentation is the recommendations of the War Committee of the Egyptian Chamber, which appear to be equal to the previous efforts made to undermine the policy of the army as an instrument of order, and to utilise it for political and partisan ends. After the murder of Sir Lee Stack in 1924, Huddleston Pasha became act-ing-Sirdar, and, early in 1925, when he became Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan defence force, he delegated his functions as acting-Sirdar to Spinks Pasha, Inspector-General of the Egyptian Army.

The Times to-day expresses the view that the pressure of the extreme Wafd upon the Egyptian Government, followed by the recommendation against the renewal of the Sudan credits in the Parliamentary Committee, has made it necessary for the British government to declare its attitude on the army question very plainly. There is no question of withdrawing the recognition of the independent status of Egypt, which was conceded in February, 1922. Time and opportunity have been given for all the necessary internal adjustments in Egypt to the new conditions of independence. LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS. A certain lack of responsiveness on the part of some prominent Egyptians has been tolerated or overlooked. It is felt, however, that it is not possible to disregard the direct challenge • offered to the special interests reserved by Great Britain in Egypt. Great Britain is responsible both for the security of the Suez Canal and for that of foreign communities in Egyptian territory. This implies constant concern for the efficiency of the Egyptian army and for the elimination of those influences which are liable to make the army the plaything of party strife and are therefore injurious to its efficiency. In the Note now presented to Sarwat Pasha the special British interest in the Egyptian Army position is emphasised, and the Egyptian Government is requested to put forward proposals as to how the necessary British co-operation in the military affairs of the country may be most effectively ensured. Authoritative circles deny that Britain's Note to Egypt is an ultimatum. On the contrary, a most friendly message from Cairo suggests that highplaced personages are busy explaining that the war committee’s recommendations do not necessarily reflect the Cabinet’s policy. The British battleships Barham and Malaya have been ordered from Malta to Egypt and are expected to reach Alexandria early on Wednesday. The battleship Royal Sovereign will arrive at Port Said the same day. HALS. Barham flies the flag of viee-Admlral Kelly. No other warships are under order for Egypt. DESPATCH OF BATTLESHIPS. In view of the present political situation in Egypt the dispatch of these vessels was considered advisable as a precautionary measure since by the declaration of 1922 Great Britain is responsible for the safety and protection of foreigners in Egypt. The political tension there appears to bo very largely the artificial creation of extremists, members of the Wafd, designed to strengthen their own party position. This was clearly shown last week when in the Egyptian Parliament Wafd deputies made the recent visit of Lord Lloyd to Minia the occasion for a concerted and obviously prearranged onslaught. Actually Lord Lloyd was present in Minia at the invitation of 1500 loyal notables and the occasion was marked by expressions of mutual friendship and esteem.

In Parliament the extremist deputies violently attacked the notables for issuiag the invitation to Government officials who were present and Lord Lloyd for his remarks, and the Chamber afterwards passed a resolution repudiating the attacai on tue- notables and ofliciais concerned.

A further uncertain element in the situation is the recommendations of the ■Kg. ptian Parliamentary-War Committer regarding the Egyptian Army. The defence of Egypt from foreign aggression is one of the points in the British declaration of 1922.

British officer., have hitherto managed to prevent the army’s discipline being undermined by the political unrest, and the committee’s recommendations are undoubtedly designed to make it the tool of a political party. This would make it useless for one of its matin functions, namely, to support the police in the maintenance of order, disturbance of which, as was shown as recently as 1921, directly involves a threat to fore gn lives and interests. The defence of Egypt being of as much British as Egyptian interest, close collaboration between the armed forces of both countries is obviously of mutual advantage. The British Government is perfectly ready to conclude an agreement to ensure such co-operation. Received June I, 7 p.m. London, May 31.

The Tunes, ig a leader commenting on the Egyptian situation, says all that has happened is that Great Britain found it advisable to check certain tendencies in Egypt which, if allowed to develop might become dangerous. The British Note affords a reasonable o-poitunity for discussion, but Great Britain certainly does not intend to bn quietly elbowed out of her clear responsibilities for the security of Egypt. Received June 1, 11.30 p.m. Cairo, May 31.

The War Ministry vote, which was due to be discussed to-day, has been postponed.