THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1929. BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Wairarapa Age, 9 August 1929, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1929. BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Shorn of diplomatic verbiage, the proposals submitted by the British Government to Egypt concede to the latter country virtually all that her most extreme elements have ever asked for. With some doubtful reservations regarding mutual diplomatic action and the employment of British officers and officials, Egypt is offered complete control of her own internal affairs and it seems that no adequate provision is made even for the protection of the Suez Canal. British forces guarding the canal are to be maintained “in localities to be agreed upon east of longitude 32,” which means, presumably, east of Cairo. In any case, it is clear that the maintenance of good order in Egypt is to be left to Egyptians. This may square admirably with modern theories of self-determin-ation, but it can hardly be justified in light of the history of Egypt, even if a historical survey is extended over a comparatively brief period of years. It is little more than half a century since Egypt was lifted by Britain out of anarchy and misrule, and even under British control foreigners were being murdered by rioters in the streets of Alexandria five years ago. Unless some miraculous transformation takes place, an unaided native Government of Egypt will be weak and corrupt, to the great prejudice and detriment of the mass of the people, and disorders are more than likely to occur which will bring foreign intervention as a matter of course. The British Labour Government is definitely open to the charge of adopting a policy of weakness which will open the way to serious future troubles and possibly to disputes with Powers which have nationals in Egypt. Political circles in London, we are told to-day are disposed, before venturing an opinion on the new treaty, to wait and see how the Egyptian Premier, Mahmud Pasha, fares when he submits the proposals to the Egyptian Parliament. The really important question, however, concerns what may be expected to happen later on. It will not be at all surprising if the proposals are accepted by Egypt and even by the turbulent Wafd, or Nationalist Party, but i|.does not by any means follow that peace and good order will reign thereafter. TJie relaxation of the firm control by Great Britain which has conferred far-reach-ing benefits on Egypt and has done a great deal to avert international complications is at best a dangerous and doubtful experiment.