EGYPTIAN CABINET STILL UNDECIDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 226, 23 September 1940, Page 7

EGYPTIAN CABINET STILL UNDECIDED.

ITALIAN INVASION. Saadists Seek Declaration Of War. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Recd."2 p.m.) LOXDOX, Sept. 22. Four prominent Egyptian Cabinet Ministers, associated with' the party which favoured immediate declaration of war against Italy, have resigned. They were the Ministers of Finance, Communications and Commerce, and one Minister without portfolio. No new Ministers have been appointed, the four positions having been taken over by members of the existing Cabinet.

"The. Times'' Cairo correspondent says the Saadist party withdrew its Cabinet representatives on the "round that the Government had failed to carryout its undertaking to declare war if Italy invaded Egypt. The Premier has refused to allow the incident to lead to a Cabinet crisis, and has obtained the King's consent to replace the resigned Ministers by combining some portfolios and drawing on Ministers without portfolio. The Cabinet supports the Premier's contention that the Italian occupation of tiO miles of waterless desert is unimportant, and does not represent an attack. Should the threat to Egypt increase, the Government's resolution to defend the country will be fulfilled. The Government now depends on the Wafdists for support. It is stated that the Cabinet refused to be rushed into decisions, and is determined to await developments before declaring war. Ahmed Maher, leader of the Saadist party and Shaker of the Chamber, is heading a campaign for Egypt's entry into the war. In a speech he said: "The enemy has invaded our country and attacked our children. We cannot be onlookers.

"We must disregard our own strength and stand beside a strong ally whose mighty Fleet and mighty Air Force have astounded the world. They have proved able to frustrate the enemy in his own country and also to confound him in ours."