THE EXTREME LIMIT.

Wairarapa Age, 8 August 1929, Page 2

THE EXTREME LIMIT.

TEXT OF BRITISH PROPOSALS TO EGYPT. WITHDRAWAL OF MILITARY FORCES. NEW CONDITIONS OF ALLIANCE. United Press Association.—By Electric Te legraph —Copy ri gh t RUGBY, August 6. The text is issued of proposals to achieve a lasting aad honourable settlement of the questions outstanding between Great Britain and Egypt, which were submitted by Mr. A. Henderson, Foreign Secretary, to the Egyptian Prime Minister on August 3. Mr. Henderson, in a covering note to the Egyptian Prime Minister, says in part:— “The proposals, together with the explanatory notes to be exchanged on matters of detail, which your Excellency is about to submit to the Egyptian Parliament, represents the dxtreme limit to which I could recommend His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to go in their desire to achieve a lasting and honourable settlement of the outstanding questions between Great Britain and Egypt.” Mohammed Mahmoud Pasha, the Egyptian Prime Minister, in a Noto acknowledging the receipt of the proposals, says: “I realise that these proposals represent the extreme limit to which you could recommend His Britannic Majesty’s Government to go, and, for my part, I am prepared to submit them to the Egyptian people and Parliament in the sincere belief that their acceptance would be in the best interests of my country.” The proposals are as follow:—

(1) The military occupation, of Egypt by British forces is terminated. (2) An alliance is established between the high contracting parties in consecration of their friendship, cordial understanding, and good relations. (3) Egypt, being anxious to become a member of the League o£ Nations, will present, in the conditions prescribed by Article 1 of the Covenant, a request for admission to the League, which His Britannic Majesty undertakes to support. (4) Should any dispute with a third State produce a situation involving a risk of rupture with that State, the high contracting parties will concert together with a view to the settlement if the said dispute by peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of the league Covenant, and of any other national obligations applicable to the case. SAFEGUARDS PROVIDED. (5) Each of the high contracting ; parties undertakes not to adopt in ]

foreign countries an attitude which is inconsistent with the alliance or will create difficulties for the other party thereto. In pursuance of this undertaking they will not oppose each other’s policy in foreign countries nor conclude with a third Power any agreement of a political character which might be prejudicial to the interests of the other party. (6) His Britannic Majesty recognises that responsibility for the lives or property of foreigners in Egypt devolves henceforth upon the Egyptian Government. The King of Egypt will ensure the fulfilment of his obligations in this respect. (7) Should, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (4), either of the high contracting parties become involved in. war, the other will immediately come to his aid in the capacity of ally. In particular the King of Egypt will, in event of war or the ' menace of war, furnish to HU Britannic Majesty, on Egyptian territory, ad

facilities lard assistance in his power, including the use of his ports, aerodromes, and means of commo nicat.ion, (8) In view of the desirability of identity in training and methods be tween the Egyptian and British armies, the King of Egypt undertakes that, should he deem it necessary to have recourse to foreign military instructors, these shall be chosen from British subjects. FORCES IN CANAL ZONE. (9) In order to facilitate and secure the protection of the Suez Oanal as an essential means of communication between different parts of the British Empire, the King of Egypt authorises His Britannic Majesty to maintain upon Egyptian territory, in localities to be agreed upon cast of longitude 32 degrees East, such forces as His Britannic Majesty considers necessary for the purpose. The presence of these forces shall not constitute in any manner an occupation, and will in no way prejudice the sovereign rights of Hgypt. (10) The Egyptian Government, when engaging the services of foreign officials, will, as a rule, engage British subjects. (11) His Britannic Majesty recognises that the capitulatory regime now existing in Egypt is no longer in accordance with the spirit of the times and with the present state of Egypt, and accordingly undertakes to use all his influence with the Powers possessing capitulatory rights in Egypt to obtain, on conditions which will ‘safeguard the legitimate interests of foreigners, the transfer to mixed tribunals of the jurisdiction of the existing Consular Courts and the application of Egyptian legislation to foreigners. (12) His Britannic Majesty will be represented at tho Court of the King of Egypt by an Ambassador duly accredited, and the King of Egypt will reserve the highest diplomatic rank at his Court to the representative of His Britannic Majesty. The King of Egypt will be represented at the Court of St. James’s by an Ambassador. CONTROL OF SUDAN RESERVED.

(13) While reserving the liberty to conclude new conventions in future modifying the conventions of 1899, tho high contracting parties agree that the status of the Sudan be that resulting from the said conventions. Accordingly the Governor-General shall continue to exercise, on the joint bo-

half of the high contracting parties, the powers conferred upon him by the said conventions. (14) Nothing in the present proposals is intended to or shall in any way prejudice tho rights and obligations Which devolve or may devolve upon either of the high contracting parties under the Covenant of the League of Nations or the Treaty for Renunciation of War signed at Paris August 27, 1928. (15) Any difference regarding the application or interpretation of the .present proposals which the parties are unable to settle by direct negotiations shall be dealt with, in accordance with the provisions of the Covenant, of the League of Nations. (16) Any time after the expiration of a period of twenty-five years from the ooming into force of the Treaty based on the above proposals, such modification of its terms as may be deemed appropriate in the circumstances as they exist may be made by agreement between the high cor.traeting parties. . EXPLANATORY NOTES. The explanatory notes to .be exchanged deal with the details of tho proposals regarding the Army advisers, police, foreign officials, and the Sudan. Notos on the Army provide for the termination of the existing arrangements under which the Inspector-Gen-eral and his staff exercise certain functions and the withdrawal of the British personnel from Egyptian forces. The Egyptian Government will avail itself of the advice of a British Military Mission, and will send the personnel of the Egyptian forces to be trained abroad to Groat Britain only. The armament and equipment of the Egyptian forces shall be the same as those in the British forces. Provision is also made for the Egyptian Government to supply accommodation and reasonable amenities for the British troops in tho Suez Canal zone, in return for tho quarters they will vacate. Unless the two Governments agree to the contrary, the Egyptian Government will prohibit aircraft within twenty kilometres of the Suez Canal, excepting the forces of the two Governments or services maintained by genuinely British or Egyptian organisations operating under Egyptian authority. There will also bo exchange of facilities for military aircraft.

Tho Egyptian Note regarding advisers states that in order to secure a satisfactory completion of the extensive programme of reform which the Egyptian Government is undertnk: the best advice procurable will be required, and during the period needed for the completion of reforms, British subjects will be employed as Financial Adviser to the Egyptian Government and Judicial Adviser to the Ministry of Justice. Future occupants of these posts will be selected in agreement with the British Government, and will receive appointments as Egyptian officers.—(British Officio! Wireless.)