FUTURE OF EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2375, 3 February 1915, Page 7

FUTURE OF EGYPT

EGYPTIAN PREMIER'S VIEWS. The entrance of Turkey into the great war has naturally brought Egypt face to face with a position of no little difficulty. The fact (says the Cairo correspondent of the Liverpool "Daily Post") that the situation is not without its dangers has been met by the country in perfect order, and the complete tranquillity is an excellent and gratifying indication of the continued success of the British administration in Egypt. But, by common consent, in the opinion of Eurojieans and natives alike, no small share of the success with which the crisis has been bandied is due to the statesmanship and patriotism of His Excellency llushdi Pasha, the Prime Minister of Egypt. His Excellency, who to-day has been kind enough to grant me an interview —an interview made doubly interesting in that it has taken place at a momentous period in Egyptian history—is undoubtedly the most distinguished native statesman of modern Eeypt. He is a gentleman of great culture, charm of manner, and breadth of view. He is ripe in experience, for after' fifteen years' study in France, and having held Judgeships in mixed tribunals and the Native Court of Appeal, he became successively Director General of Wakfs (Public Trustee), Minister for Justice (a post he held for two periods), and Minister,for Foreign Affairs. He has been Prime Minister of Egypt since April last. "There can be no doubt," said His Excellency, speaking in English after having expressed his great pleasure at receiving an English journalist, "that England has done magnificent and abiding work in Egypt. The benefits which have been conferred on the country by the enlightened and generous rule of Great Britain is really incalculable, and every Egyptian who has tho welfare of his land at heart readily recognises _ that fact, and hopes that the association of the two countries will never be interrupted. "You have only to note Egypt's geographical situation and to consider the strength of the Egyptians as a people in order to see how necessary it is for us to be helped by another in the work of government, to be protected and assisted in our progress towards even more fully developed nationhood. In Egypt we have the Suez Canal, a most important link in the, great and most necessary highroad of in extensive British Empire, and it is therefore only natural that Great Britain and Egypt should be bound by the most intimate link of friendship and in the strong bonds of partnership. "But, more than that, we are a small people, and we require protection. We Btand in need of a strong friend who will protect the integrity, of our territory. It is necessary, of course, in addition that tho Power which occupies that position should be an enlightened and liberal country, so that we may under its guid>mce have the opportunity of advancing towards our hopes as a people and our real position as a State. / •"You will 6ee, therefore, that England fulfils all the conditions necessary for being the Power to occupy the position of Protector of Egypt. She is strong enough to protect our ' territory and maintain its integrity. She'has great experience in dealing with 6uch administrative problems, aa Egypt presents.-

"As to the Sues Canal, while it is important to her, it is of equal importance that the people of the land through which it passes should be contented and prosperous. Is it not obvious that England is the country best suited to carry oift the onerous duties of helping and protecting Egypt? That is her natural role. Personally, lam sure that'if the events which brought England to Egypt had not taken place there would still have been the strongest of reasons 'or very close relationship between the two couLtries." His Excellency vhen went on to Bpeak of the future of his country. _ His hopes are of the highest, fie believes that the good work done in the past will produce even more abundant and noteworthy results. "We must "refrain," His Excellency declared, "from taking a narrow view. At present we are building, and, if our work is to be lasting and its results are to be beneficial, we must be sure of the foundations, certain that they will be strong enough, to carry the superstructure of State that we all hope to erect. Therefore we must , look far ahead, go slowly and surely, and then I shall have no doubt as to the ultimate results. The Egyptians look forward to the future witn great faith in England. "By her presence hero she secures two very necessary things. She maintains the safety of an important link in the cfhain of a world-wide Empire, and she safeguards the financial interests of Europe in Egypt. These two great objects will, of course, be all the better achieved in proportion as the condition of Egypt is improved and the political status of her people is advanced. Egypt does not ask for big strides forward.. She is content with careful advanoe, and one step at a time. "We look forward to tho day—and we are sure it will not be long coming—when our Legislative Assembly, at present only consultative, will be deliberative with regard to strictly looal questions—questions which, as a rule, are peculiar and entirely Egyptian, and which carry no connecting problems beyond the country and eyen in some cases beyond a limited portion of Egypt. We hope for autonomy eventually regarding such matters, in the way hope for progress bit by bit, realising our own hopes, and at the same time binding ever more closely the links which bind us to the great British Empire." . His Excelknoy concluded with a most cordial acknowledgment of the great services rendered to Egypt by -Liord Kitchener. "Lord Kitchener,' said Rushdi Pasha, "has, though a soldier, proved himself in Egypt to be a real statesman. He likes tho Egyptians, and knows them so thoroughly, and those who have the honour to work with him cannot fail to recognise tho great administrative qualities, invariable courtesy, and kindness with which he meets them on all occasions. In Egypt we are sure ho was really intended for us, for he,was so full of good intentions towards us. We all welcome him back most heartilj if he can be spared to us."