BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 7

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

CONFERENCE IN LONDON. A SIGNIFICANT OCCASION. ESTABLISHING WORLD PEACE. Unlled Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright. (Received April 1, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 31. Twenty four Egyptians in sombre morning dress with reel 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) and Mr R. G. Casey (Australia). Youth predominated among the Egyptians. No references were made by Hon. A. Henderson, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, or Nahas Pasha at the opening of tiie conference to the security of the Suez Canal, except bv inference. Mr Henderson said the occasion was of special significance in the relations of the two countries, which had coma together, firstly, to strengthen the League, that great organisation which nations were building up to establish world peace, and secondly, lo seal by treaty the 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, replying, referred to the generous sympathy which had prompted the British Government in making proposals for an Anglo-Egypt-ian 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 in no way dicouraged this Egyptian delegation. The representatives of the two countries retired behind closed door* to wrestle with the difficulties.