The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1924. THE EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 18 November 1924, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1924. THE EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

Zaglilul Pasha has accurately sized up> the mental calibre oi tile people ot Cairo, Eor the second time he has played upon the passions ot the Egyptians and compelled them to accept, his conuitionnl retention oi the difficult office cl Prime Minister ot an African State in its adolescent state. But there is method m Zaghlul’s ill-health! Presumably he has been hampered by the uncontrollable elements in Ills Cabinet. Unquestionably, Zaghlul Pasha has embarked upon a dangerous policy, and since there are Hons m the path leading 1 to the goal of his ambition, the Egyptian Prime Minister desires to shake himself free of all restraint and make a bid, wholeheartedly’ and unencumbered, for the. Nationalist, policy of Egypt for the Egyptians. Moreover, me failure ot /.aghiul efforts, during his recent visit to England, has somewhat dimmed Iris prestige, and in a measure plighted the hopes of those Egyptians who support Zaghlul in his imperialistic aspirations. Some dramatic diversion is essential if the Zaghlul regime is to live. Hence tho dramatic, resignation,- and the subsequent conditional witlldrawai. Many Egyptians, not all of the “advanced” sections, had fluttered themselves, with the assumption that they could play upon the weaknesses and the inexperience of a Labour Government to extract, from it concessions which no other Government, would giant,. But Mr Macdonaia it is only fair to say, showed firmness and decision m regal'd to the only subject of the conversations which threatened to become acute. In the recent, troubles in the Sudan, Mr Macdonald showed that a Labour Prihie Minister can assert, the rights of Britain and the rights of those to whom she has extended her protection,, with all tho promptitude and vigour that, circumstances may demand. He spoke out clearly and frankly, and when liis words failed to overawe, the disturbers of public order and thei enemies of our authority, he followed them by determined action. He laid it “down in August that Britain has. responsibilities to the Sudan and the Sudanese which ■ cannot bo thrown off; that .Britain canirot withdraw and hand over tho rule of the Sudan 1 eso “to any other Government." He laid stress upon Britain > “moral obligation” to the Sudanese 1 , and declared that the British Government would, be “Worse than cowards” simply to,abandon them. In these declarations Mr Macdonald was merely repeating, but repeating with desirable force alid emphasis, what, hits been the settled policy of his predecessors, belonging tp both ilia old parties, since Britain defeated and destroyed the .Ehalifa a quarter of a century ago. It. is a policy entirely commending itself ,to the conscience and to tlio judgment of the nation, which, would unquestionably resent, any departure from its main features. Modifications in the present system under which the Sudan os administered may be desirable, and even lie cess ary. But, _ the. fundamental principles of British policy' 1 in Egypt, a young and weak State on*the direct, highway to India, to Australia, and to the Ear East, are immutable, and tho sooner the Egyptians of ail schools take this truth to heart the, better for Egypt. Zaghlul i'a.slut was met wiui empnatm refusal when he submitted his demands to the imperial Government m September. The questions in dispute concern sqch very vital subjects as the presence, of the British (funison in Egypt, security of British communications through, the canal ahd over the Egyptian railways, the protection of minorities and of foreign interests in Egypt, and the position of the, Suiiun. Tho more sagacious, and t-lie better informed Egyptian statesmen and citizens, doubtless appreciate Britain’s position in regard to Egypt, the Sudanese and tho head waters of the Nile. They cannot fail to understand that whatever the distant future may bring, Egypt Ts at lire,sent not strong enough to stand alone ill a troubled world, and that .British .support is of especial value to the new State. But unfortunately the great, majority ot Uie politically minded classes in Egypt, are neither sagacious nor veil informed, hence the success of Zaghlul Pasha's little trick designed, we are assured, not to inluse a better spirit into the relations between England and Egypt, hut to .inflame the- passions of the Egyptian against their traditional triends, despite the fact that the creation of such a spirit is gicatty to lie desired in the- interests ot both, and particularly in the interests of file weaker of the two.