BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 4

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

The visit of an Egyptian mission of economic inquiry to London may portend an improvement in the political relations of Britain and Egypt. The Wafd, or Nationalist Party, was at one time dominated by extremists who were prepared to throw off any suggestion of British suzerainty in Egypt’s foreign affairs, and to disregard treaty conditions. This led to autocratic rule by King Fuad for four years. Wafd gatherings were supervised strictly, and the party, which formally is followed by a great majority of the Egyptians, was restrained from political propaganda. The discipline appears to have been effective, for a congress of the Wafd held in January was attended by men and women of standing who applied themselves to such matters as drainage, irrigation, education, the freedom of the Press, and the conditions of the lowest paid workers, instead of denouncing the British and calling upon the Government to break its treaties. There seems a possibility, therefore, that the Wafd may again come into power, and that it is preparing to assume the responsibility of administering Egypt in co-operation with Great Britain in matters affected by treaty agreements. The despatch of the commission of inquiry to London is a good sign, for the economic history of Egyptian Ministries has been one of melancholy failure except when Britain controlled the finances of the country. If members of the Wafd recognise that the weakness of the past must be overcome by any party claiming the right to office, and that to keep the nation’s finances sound is one of the first duties of any Ministry it is possible that a return to Parliamentary rule in Egypt will not be long delayed. Whatever may be the political relations between Britain and Egypt the economic relations are of much importance. The investment of British capital has played an important part in the resuscitation of Egypt in the past half century, and its continuance will make a great difference to that country’s future progress.