BRITAIN’S NOTE TO EGYPT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17947, 4 May 1928, Page 9

BRITAIN’S NOTE TO EGYPT.

Foreign Minister’s Statement. BILL MUST BE DROPPED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 2. Sir Austen Chamberlain (Minister of Foreign Affairs), in the- House of Commons, said Britain had replied to Egypt, expressing satisfaction at the postponement of the Assemblies Bill, but repeating the warning that it must drop it altogether. [A copy of the text of the Assemblies Bill, which, came before the Egyptian Senate, reached London on Apnt 21 and was the subject of unfavourable comment in the press. When the Egyptian Government rejected the. draft AnglcEgyptian treaty which had been negotiated by Sarwat Pasha, ex-Prime Minister of Egypt, and Sir Aiusten Chamberlain, British Foreign Secretary, it was reminded in a communication sent, at the beginning of March, that the British Government -would not permit the discharge of its responsibilitv for the protection of foreigners in Egypt to be endangered by Egyptian legislation. The. present Bill is regarded by the British Press as likely to have the effect of facilitating political agitation and weakening, the hands of those whose .duty it is to maintain order. • _ '/ Among the clauses which attracted comment are those stipulating that police officers may attend meetings, but can only dissolve them in two cases, namely: (1) If the. committee responsible for the meeting requests in writing that this should be done. (2) In case of grave disorder, in. which event a. meeting can he resumed if calm is considered to have been restored. Lighter penalties are to be imposed on demonstrators who contravene the law than on officials who dissolve a meeting in cases other than those indicated in the Bill. t „ Writing from Cairo On April 20 the correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” skid Egypt, was nearing a grave crisis. He said the 'latest statement made by Nahas Pasha to a German journalist was very bold. Nahas declared that the Egyptian Government did not recognise the declaration of February, 1922. Because Egypt never was part of the British. Empire it was impossible to oonfer independence upon her, which was her inherent and essential right. His Government was determined to proceed with its assemblies law. ■