BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17447, 6 July 1928, Page 6

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Mohammed Pasha Mahmud, the recently-appointed Prime Minister of. Egypt, has intimated that the policy of his Cabinet will be along the same lines as that of Nahas Pasha. He has not the slightest intention of renouncing Egypt’s national aspirations, which of course means that the demand for the complete evacuation of British troops will be persisted in and that more friction may he anticipated- In view of this determination it is interesting to glean the foreign point of view on a matter of such importance to the British Empire. Still more interesting is the fact that the British attitude is approved. The Gaulois. finds it particularly difficult, in view of the considerable interests which France lias in Egypt, ‘'and the esteem iu which her culture is hold there, lo form an impartial opinion about the Anglo-Egyptian conflict, which could be so serious in i's possible consequences. A close examination of the position of the two countries shows, however, that it is impossible for England to adopt a different policy. She lias tried to introduce as . much liberalism as is compatible with the safeguarding not merely of her prestige," but of the free communications of the West with India, China, East Africa, and Australia. If the English domination were oppressive and vexatious, if it in any way hampered the free play of Egypt’s political institutions, points out the paper, one could understand the legitimate impatience of a nation increasingly conscious of its capacities and its resources. Another French paper, the Avenir, writes that the line of conduct adopted by the Egyptian Government is absolutely unreasonable. For the good of the counlry which it represents the Egyptian Government should realise that it has nothing to gain by being at loggerheads with Great Britain. If, from the moment the British Government recognised Egyptian independence the Egyptians had shown that they were open to reason, if they had really given proof of political maturity and had behaved in the right way towards Britain, they would doubtless have obtained a hundred times more than by attempting to take a strong line and by being in a perpetual state of effervescence. These views emanating from a foreign country, which was not always so friendly disposed towards Great Britain as it is at present, are decidedly encouraging to the British people. Since the British Government recognised Egyptian independence with certain reservations in 1922, Britain has tried to reduce the military occupation as much as possible and to hand over financial and judicial administration

to the Egyptian Government- The prosperity, good order, and progress of all kinds which have been achieved in Egypt prove that only politics and the rashness of inexperienced politicians disturb the country, in claiming rights which would amount to the expulsion of the British and the renunciation of all control over Suez and the Upper Nile the Egyptian Government was really working against Egypt’s interests. A country in Egypt’s position —a position of helplessness in the matter of defence —has much to gain by reliance on Britain’s guardianship. On the other hand, it is quite obvious that Great- Britain can to-day less than ever give Egypt a free hand in all things, which is practically what Egypt demanded, in particular she cannot, without ttie greatest risk, leave the guarding of the most essential part of her imperial communications to a people who do not attempt to hide their animosity towards her.