The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8th, 1922 EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, MARCH Bth, 1922 EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.

The form of British control in Egypt is naturally a matter of concern to the Empire A contemporary ill referring to the subject goes on to say tnat Egypt has been for a quarter of a century in everything except name a Protectorate of Britain, and as long ago as eighteen years back the position was so obvious that it was recognised by 'France, our only serious competitor in the Egyptian sphere. After the outbreak of war in 1914 it became necessary as a matter of international law to put a name upon Egypt’s relationship to Britain, and the name, applied as a matter of convenience, has now been withdrawn, also, probably as a matter of convenience. But it by no means follows that Egypt is a victim to British Imperialism, and that she can be paralleled with Ireland. That, we know, is the accepted , view of the 'Liberal Party in Bin , or of that section of the party which is outside the Coalition. We can sympathise with the general principles upon which such a view is adopted, but looking at the matter with some measure of historical perspective it is impossible to give it full endorsement. If it is a question between the adoption of flic Milner Report which favoured an arrangement by treaty of the matters which affect British interests and the imposition upon the Egyptian people by Britain of cut-and-dried stipulations concerning which Egypt is to be given no voice, when we vastly prefer the Milner Report. But no matter how Egyptian self-government is brought about the cold hard and unpleasant fact is that Egypt will need a guarantor of her independence. She will need a protector even if she is not

a protectorate, When Britain first intervened in Egypt the country was merely a battleground upon which various larger nations disputed over opportunities of exploitation aim loot In tbe only period in the last efiWtul’.y in which Egypt was de facto it sovereign State—during the regime of Aleliemet Ali—she owed her strength to a complete autocracy. A self-governed Egypt will need a powerful friend to protect it from invasion and exploitation, and Britain is determined to be the friend for the obvious reason that Egypt borders the gateway of India—tile Suez Cana). Whether we eiin best achieve the Imperial purpose by tho friendly atld tactful attitude recommended in the Milner Report or by the brusque and brutal methods which seem to be favoured by the present trend of foreign policy is the whole mutter at issue in 'English politics. There are Liberals, of course, who will question the end as well as the method of that policy. If it is Urged that we need a measure of control in Egypt in order to safeguard our Control of India they retort By suggesting that the Gordian knot should, be cut By withdrawing from India. Son net or later, probably, both Egypt and India will be given as ample rights of self-government as are possessed by Canada or New Ze.land or Australia, or by the newly-constituted Ireland. Ih that case the friendship of Egypt a lb! 'of India ahd their willingness to remain as units of the Empire will be large factors in bringing about a peaceful and peasant transition to a new order of Imperial affiliation. The ‘uvee free” view of these matters is llpt to engender impatience because it sheiiiS to overlook the great practical considerations which at present rule the situation but it hap, this historic justification—that if it had prevailed in 1776 the Empire map would now inaliide in its roseate patches almost the whole Continent of North America. The reading of the American Declaration of Independence is u favourite ‘‘fourth of’ July”, exercise in the schools of the United States, It ought also to be compulsory upon the Foreign Secretaries of Britain to read it at least olive a yeah.