BRITISH CABINET SITS LATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 15

BRITISH CABINET SITS LATE.

LONDON. June I. The late sitting held by Cabinet concerned the situation in Egypt as well as the coal crisis. The result of the previous year's elections held in March brought the state of parties to Zaghlulists 102; all other parties 108. Ziwar Pasha, who had undertaken office after the crisis precipitated by the murder of the Sirdar, Sir Lee Stack, in November, 1924, and the British ultimatum which followed, continued as Prime Minister, but Zaghlul was elected President of the Chamber. Parliament only lasted ten hours. Ziwar found it impossible to carry on and a decree was issued dissolving Parliament. The dissolution was due to King F'uad’s declining to accept the resignation of Cabinet following upon Zaghlul’s election as President of the Chamber. It was afterwards alleged that Zaghlul got his majority in the Chamber by means of various hoaxes and promises of portfolios to members of the other parties. It was believed that 47 deputies were hoaxed in this Lord Allenb3 r then resigned as High Commissioner in Egypt and was succeeded by Sir George Lloyd, formerly Governor of Bombay. Egypt continued through 1925 without a Parliament, a communique on November 18 warning deputies that they had ceased to have any representative character after Parliament was dissolved on March 25. On November 21 a meeting of senators and deputies numbering ISO took place at the Continental Hotel under the presidency of Zaghlul, and resolutions were passed condemning the action of the Government as unconstitutional. Zaghlul declared himself defender of the Constitution. In the meantime troops and police surrounded Parliament Buildings to prevent any gathering there. The recent elections gave his party a greater majority than ever. The policy of Zaghlul is notorious. It embraces the extrusion of British influence in Egypt, complete freedom of action for Egypt without check or interference from Britain in any shape or form, and the acquisition of the Sudan for Egypt. It is a programme which will be constantly urged.