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UNREST IN EGYPT

SETTLED DEFINED POLICY

DEMANDED

STATEMENT BY MR. BALFOUR

BRITISH SUPREMACY TO BE

SUSTAINED

By Telsgraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. November 20, 0.30 a.m.)

London, November IS. In the House of Commons, tho Hon. W. G. A. Orms)-/-iToro deplored tho delay ill making peace with Turkey. He 6aid that half the trouble in Egypt to-day was due to this continued <&lay. Until a definito statement was made as to whether Lord Milner's Commission was or was not going to Egypt the agitations there would continue. "If wo do not intend to ovacuate, let us say so, and make it quite dear that we intend to be masters there," he coucluded. In reply, Mr. Balfour pointed out that our difiioulty in regard to Turkey was that we were unable to say exactly what wo desired to do there. That would be unfair to our allios. There must be a c&nnnon Allied policy. Nevertheless it was a profound misfortune for all the populations in the Near East that tlio leace Conference had not settled their future. It was not Britain's fault, but was due to tho fact that America had not given a clear lead of her own policy. Until that was done it was impossible to lay down a common policy of all the Associated Powers, of which America was one of the most important. It was also true that tho prevailing Turkish unrest was doing infinite harm, making it more difficult every day to find a _ satisfactory solution, lie said emphatically that there was not a shadow of truth in tho reiterated statement that Britain's military occupation of Svria meant that slio was going to remain dominant there. The difficulties beforo all tho Western mandatory Powers and the Arabs were great, but should not bo exaggerated. The Arabs for the first time in centuries had played a great part in the allianco with tho Entcnto Powers, and had especially shown themselves, in closq co-operation with tho British troops, fnithful, brave, and effloient. Tho prestige of tho Arab raco had consequently greatly risen, and ho had every liopo that there would bo a resuscitation of a great Arab civilisa-'! tion. "As for as the Anglo-French are concerned thero cannot be any rivalry in Svria. We earnestly hope in the friendliest co-operation with thi French, "nd with the warmest regard for .our Arablallies, to 6eo all these difficulties solved." He was absolutely confident that the unhappy spirit of unrest in Egypt was produced by tho war, and would be brought to an end, especially seoing that Lord Allonby was in control of the situation, and perfectly understood that the East was the birthplace of rumours, and was full of the strangest legends concerning the policy of His Majesty's Government. The Government's view was that tho tlireo questions of Egypt, the Sudan, and tho Canal, 1 formed an organic indivisiblo whole. England, in conneotion with this, would not give tip any of her responsibilities. (Uieers.) British supremacy exists and British supremacy is going to be mainlined. (Cheors.) Let nono in or out of Egypt make any mistake on that cardinal principle of government. Nevertheless. wo desire in every way possible to associate the Egyptian native populat >v 7ni » ovenlln c n t of the country. Die Government desires In all respects to promote prosperity in Egypt. J-ho country is disturbed by a certain amount of dissension and unrealisablo expectations, which, if fulfilled, would damage Britain and the world, but mostly tho Egyptian population. The Government unalterably adheres to its decision to send out the Milner Commission of Investigation. Until that Commissions report is received it would be folly to attempt to sketch projected legislation. but the population may rest asfiureri tiiat wo desiro to associate them as far as possible with tho work of administration, and that unlike their Turkish masters, who in Egypt at the present moment affect to bo pro-Egyptian, wo shall steadily pursue that policy of amelioration which has made Egypt an utterly different place for all its inhabitants; and mostly for tho natives, comlwred with the Turkish rule. These are tiie principles which animate tho Government in respect to the Midole East. U o recozniee the complication and extraordinary difficulty of tho task." Mr Balfour concluded: "But Britain has undertaken other tasks, no less difficult, and has brought them to a successful eonolusion. Why should wo despair?" i Cheers.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191120.2.47

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 48, 20 November 1919, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
730

UNREST IN EGYPT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 48, 20 November 1919, Page 7

UNREST IN EGYPT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 48, 20 November 1919, Page 7

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