MIDDLE EAST PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17105, 29 March 1921, Page 6

MIDDLE EAST PROBLEMS.

COLONIAL SEOEETAEY'S MISSION. : (By Ofcbl*—Preti AHoclttloiwCepTtftlii) ("Tho Time*.") CAIRO. March 25. , Mr Winston Churchill's mission has, been successful, and a good precedent has been established, thus settling! Eastern regional questions which, in] future, will come under the .purview of! the Colonial Office.. " | Several important suggestions will _ be* offered to Cabinet, regarding which] strict secrecy has been enjoined,, but| the withdrawal from Mesopotamia i«| indicated, in ft manner sufficiently! fradual to permit the local government o organise itself. ' $ The most dubious point oonfrontinfe Mr Churchill ia the grouping of Ades| and Somaliland under a single admiflfef tration under the Colonial Office. Suolf hostility hau been aroused among %M Indians and tho Araba that the poisfe tion will have to be entirely reconaidf; ered. ' . >| THE EOTPTIAIToAJITtrLATIOWsI (Received March 28th, 7.55 p.im) | CAIRO, March. 28; ?f A complicated situation has arisen in connexion with the abolition of -ttifc. capitulations in Egypt. The British!' Government has requested tho Cftbfcl net's views on the- capitulations, b»s Italy does not desire their abolition! unless Cabinet is desirous. Tho Cabi-.| net has postponed its reply. % ■ It is an open seoret that Cabinet;? wishes to ascertain the views of Zagh-j loul, tho Nationalist leader, but it is* well known that Zaghloul opposes aboli-; tion of the capitulations because it i would terminate his policy of playing'; Power against Power and constitute Great Britain trustees for all foreign- ; ens. On the other hand, apart from the Nationalists,' few persons expect Great , Britain to abolish ner protectorate over Egypt if the capitulations are retained. Zaghloul arrives here shortly, and a great welcome ii> being prepared for him. IThe capitulations relate principally to the Mixed Tribunals which were instituted in 1875, and which deal with civil.actions between persons of different nationalities or between natives and foreigners, and to some extent with criminal offences of foreigners. They were set up for a period of five years, and have been renewed periodically for periods of five years.]