BRITAIN AND EGYPT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20085, 2 March 1928, Page 7

BRITAIN AND EGYPT

ANTAGONISM TO TREATY Wafd and Liberals Likely to Favour Rejection SARWAT’S RESIGNATION EXPECTED. (By Telegraph—Per pre.n Atsn. —Copyright.) Received March 1, 8 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, March 1. The Cairo correspondent of the Daily Express states that both the Wald and Liberal Constitutional executives favour the rejection of tho British proposals as recently communicated to them by Sarwat Pasha. The newspaper Mokattam, in making this announcement, adds that Sarwat will probably refrain from publicly detailing the conversations and will merely inform Lord Lloyd (British High Commissioner) that tnere is no prospect of the draft agreement being signed, and thereupon will resign. In the meantime, excitement continues. Students assembled outside the Wafd headquarters, shouting, “Down with the false agreement! Down with the Government!” The paper Alahram Kilbeister, 'in what is regarded as . n approximately correct forecast, says the Anglo-Egyp- 1 tian Treaty will be offensive and defensive. Britain will maintain military occupation for 10 years, after which the question of future occupation will be submitted to the League of Nations if a mutual understanding is not reached. Britain guarantees Egypt’s water supply from the Sudan; agrees to the suppression of capitulations under which foreign Governments enjoy wide powers; jurisdiction over her own nationals, giving Egypt a free hand to tax Europeans; also the suppression of the Consular Courts. The Egyptian army will be organised on British lines, with an Egyptian Sirdar as its head. Egypt will be granted loans from Britain in the event of war and all assistance within Egyptian territory. The Treaty provides for Egypt’s immediate admittance to the League of Nations, Egypt to undertake not to conclude third party treaties without Britain’s approval. THE SUEZ CANAL KEY TO THE POSITION. EGYPTIAN PAPERS’ MISLEADING REPORTS. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Feb. 29. The native newspapers in Cairo state that the following are the chief points in the proposed new AngloEgyptian Treaty: — British troops will continue to be stationed in the Canal zone, and the aerodromes will remain in British hands. Egypt’s foreign affairs will continue to be conducted under British supervision. The Sudan condominium will continue under the British and Egyptian Governments, pending a new special treaty. The Foreign Office declines to corroborate or deny the above points seriatim. It states that a paper will be laid before Parliament at the earliest posisble moment, and should satisfy everyone that Britain has made the fullest concession to the Egyptians’ legitimate indepem knee. Everything now depends on whether the Egyptian Ministers arc courageous enough to tell the people that the extremists’ theories of complete independence are a mere impracticable drcam. in view of Egypt’s geographical situation astride one of the world’s main sea routes.

The official view in London is that if Britain left Egypt altogether, some other Power would eventually take her

It is learned that the Dominions have been kept in the closest touch with the negotiations and they are in complete agreement with "ritain’s policy as to their most vital concern, namely, the defence of the Suez Canal.