BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17995, 14 April 1930, Page 4

BRITAIN AND EGYPT.

Negotiations are being conducted in London for the conclusion of an Anglo-Egvptian treaty. The curtain has been lifted on two or three occasions, and it is evident that Nahas Pasha and his colleagues are disposed to ask for more than the British Government is disposed to concede. They desire that Egypt should, side by side with Britain, participate in the defences of the Suez Canal- _ This does not coincide with Britain’s wishes; she, not unnaturally, seeing the importance of the canal to the maintenance of Empire communication, demands a free hand in the 'Canal zone, and is not disposed to brook the presence of other troops. The proposals of the British Government for an Anglo-Egyptian settlement contain five main points: The military occupation by British forces to be terminated, except as regards the Suez Canal zone; an AngloEgyptian alliance to be established, with co-operation in foreign policy and mutual assistance in case of war; Egyptian legislation to be applied to foreigners, and the jurisdiction of the Consular Courts to be transferred to the Mixed Tribunals; the status of the Sudan to remain unchanged; ambassadors to be exchanged between Great Britain and Egypt, and Great Britain to support the entry of Egypt to the League of Nations. These proposals, stated the Foreign Secretary, when they were first published, repre--1 sented “the extreme limit” to which he could advise the Government to go in its “desire to achieve a lasting and honourable settlement.” The opinion generally expressed by all but the Labour members of the House of Commons and the Labour press was that the Government had gone quite far enough, or rather further than was justifiable, although it was conceded that the proposals followed in large measure those which the previous Government had discussed with Sarwat Pasha. Shortly after the terms of the proposed settlement were announced, however, a change of Government occurred in Egypt as a result of which the Wafd gained an overwhelming majority in the Egyptian Parliament, and Nahas Pasha later became Price Minister. It is with the representatives of the Wafd, therefore, that the British Government must now negotiate for a settlement. Nahas Pasha was reported, prior to the last elections in Egypt, to have informed the British High Commissioner that the draft treaty would be the basis of the elections, and it remains to be seen whether the Wafd will have the good sense to accept the extremely favourable terms that Great Britain is offering, or will be misguided enough to insist on further demands, which even the Labour Government is not prepared to concede. It has been made abundantly clear’ to the Egyptions that the British proposals represent the absolute limit of British concession. They w'ill have to accept them as they stand. If they refuse to do so, the responsibility is on them.