EGYPT’S PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 6

EGYPT’S PARLIAMENT.

Recently King Fuad opened the new j Egyptian Parliament. "The nation i has shown that it accepts government ! under the new regime," he said In the I course of his speech from the throne. | It Is doubtful if Sidky Pasha's electoral success can be interpreted so generously. His elections Involved bloodshed; and though on paper the percentage of voters was high ond the Government party’s majority large, the manner in which they were conducted was, to say the least, highly questionable. There can be no question, however, but that Sidky Pasha has managed the situation skilfully. His opponents are distinctly under a cloud. Their boycott of the elections has availed them little, and it is difficult to see now how they can protest at all effectively against the new Constitution. The domestic situation Is all in Sldky’s favour. He drew up his own Constitution, conducted elections on tlje basis of It, and, unless he falls out with the King, he should enjoy a comfortable term of office. His position In regard to Anglo-Egyptian relations is not so simple. "My Government is convinced." King Fuad said “that nothing could more solidly reinforce Anglo-Egyptian friendship than the conclusion of an honourable agreement." This suggests that Sidky Pasha, like many another Egyptian Premier, intends to try his hand at negotiating an Anglo-Egyptian Treaty. As far as Egypt's internal affairs are concerned, the question of whether the Egyptian Parliament is or is not freely elected docs not arise; as far as her relations with Britain are concerned, it does arise. It is only worth while concluding a treaty with an Egyptian Premier who represents Egypt. Otherwise the treaty is liable to be repudiated, and so to add to the existing confusion in Anglo-Egyptian relations. Sidky Pasha may represent Egypt; on the other hand, he may not. Until his claim to do so is rather more obviously established he would be well advised to confine his attention to domestic problems.