PREMIER’S SILENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 6

PREMIER’S SILENCE

EGYPT LAND OF UNCERTAINTY. MANY POLITICAL RUMOURS. Not since the days of the late Sarwat Pasha has an Egyptian PremieY remained so tantalisingly silent regarding the Government’s policy as Tewfik Nessim Pasha is to-day, writes an Egyptian correspondent in the Manchester Guardian. In spite of countless political rumours he says nothing, and consequently the nation is left to speculate on the possible turn of events. Hopes that the Premier would break this strange silence were raised recently when Zaki el Ibrashi Pasha, the Director of the King’s estates, was displaced, and it was rumoured that the King had expressed a desire for a return of constitutional government. This, it was generally thought, would compel the Premier to disclose his political hand, but so far nothing of the kind has materialised. Meanwhile, however, the Rector of Al Azhar has been replaced and the longvacant rectorship of the Egyptian University has been filled. The first step had long been expected, and was really the logical outcome of Ibrashi Pasha’s removal. For months this great seat of Moslem learning had been in open rebellion against Sheikh Mohamed el Ahmadi el Zawahiry,. the rector, who was alleged to be a palace favourite, with the result that studies had to be suspended and the university closed With Ibrashi Pasha’s downfall, however, tire way was cleared for a return of Sheikh el Maraghi, a brilliant theologian, who ’previously held the post but went into retirement some years ago when his plans for a more modern curriculum were rejected. REMARKABLE EFFICIENCY. Apart from these two appointments, however, there have been no real developments and no indication of a return of constitutional government. But it seems unlike! that Tewfik Nessim Pasha can maintain his silence much longer. When he took office last November and abolished the constitution of the dictatorial regime it was understood that he would purge the Administration and then restore constitutional government. He has now completed the first part of his programme with remarkable efficiency, and unless he wants to incur the displeasure of the nation at large must take some steps to carry through the more important constitutional question. Just why he hesitates to make known his plans is a matter for conjecture. It has been suggested that Britain is still anxious, in view of the uncertain state of the King’s health, to have the matter of Regency—which figured prominently last autumn when the King was ill—settled in a satisfactory manner. But for

the moment the King apparently .declines to discuss the subject, on the grounds that his health has greatly improved and ' that consequently the Regency is not an urgent matter. The failure to effect ai d - settlement may account in part for the Premier’s reluctance to act as far as the Constitution is concerned, but, on the other hand, people are asking how much longer the Wafd will tolerate his inactivity. GROWING TIRED. ft is obvious that at least part of the Wafd are growing tired of waiting, for since the rumour was circulated that the King himself had asked for a return of constitutional government a part of the Wafdist Press has allied itself with the palace organs urging the Premier to fulfil his early promise. This has been interpreted to mean that the Wafd, as a body, are growing tired of waiting.' It is significant, however, that the organ which usually represents the views of Nahas Pasha, its leader, still commiserates with the Premier on his difficult position. The Wafd may therefore be said to be divided on the question. For the moment Nahas Pasha and his immediate followers are opposed to the policy advocated by some of the Wafd extremists of trying to turn the Premier out of office, but it seems unlikely that they will continue this benevolent attitude much longer. If, as is strongly, rumoured, the Premier takes steps in the near future to strengthen his Cabinet by the appointment of prominent politicians his Government could no longer be considered transitory and Nahas Pasha and the Wafd’ would be logically tiound to oppose it. Further than this it would be unwise to anticipate, unless it is to add that Tewflk Nessim Pasha is hardly the man to battle with the Wafd. For the moment he is playing for safety in silence, but one should not be. deceived .’nto believing that he will play a decisive part.