EGYPTIANS MEET BRITISH DIPLOMATS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 1

EGYPTIANS MEET BRITISH DIPLOMATS

CONCILIATORY SPEECHES MADE IN CONFERENCE.

(United Press Assn.-—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received April 1, 10.15 am.) LONDON, March 31

Twenty-four Egyptians in sombre morning dress and red fezzes, sat on one side of the Locarno Room at the Foreign Office, and twenty-seven British representatives occupied the other side. The vital concern of the dominions was exemplified by the attendance of Mr T. M. Wilford, New Zealand High Commissioner, and Mr Casey. Youth predominated among the Egyptians. No references were made by Mr Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, or Nahas Pasha, Egyptian Premier, at the opening of the conference, to the security of the Suez Canal, except by inference in the presence of Mr Tom Shaw, Secretary for War. and Lord Thomson, Air Minister, who were supporting Mr Henderson. Mr Henderson said that the occasion was of especial significance in the relations of the two countries, which had come together, first, to strengthen the League, that great organisation which the nations were building up to establish world peace, and secondly, to seal by the Treaty friendship between the two peoples, whose interests in so many respects were identical. There had been failures in the past, but he refused to countenance the possibility of failure on this occasion. His Majesty’s Government was much gratified to observe' that the spirit of friendship and goodwill which had prompted its offer last August had been reciprocated by Egypt- He looked forward to seeing the relations between Great Britain and Egypt secured on a basis of permanent friendship. Nahas Pasha, when replying, referred to the generous sympathy which had prompted the British Government in making proposals for the AngloEgyptian Treaty, to which it was his pleasing duty to make public homage. Egypt had responded to Britain’s conciliatory intentions with equal goodwill. He felt convinced that an agreement satisfactory to both sides would be reached. Previous failures had in no way discouraged the Egyptian delegation. The representatives of the two countries retired behind closed doors to wrestle with the difficulties.