EGYPT.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1924, Page 4

EGYPT.

A SURPRISING SITUATION. CAIRO, Feb. 5. The final elections which have just taken place for the Chamber of Deputies created by the new Constitution promulgated last April have produced a result that is a complete surprise to everyone. The Extremist party, under the leadership of the notorious Sand Basliu Zaghlul, who has given us so much trouble during the past live years, has swept the country and, contrary to expectation it has secured not only a working majority, but an overwhelming one, which bids fair to grow even larger as the time for the assembly of Parliament approaches. Of the 21-1 seats in the Chamber the Zaghlulisls have secured no less than 175 by direct means, i.e., as a result of the polling, hut since thou this number has been increased to 187, as more than half of the independents who are included among the deputies in the remaining 39 constituencies have now declared themselves partisans of Rand Pasha Zaghlul. The opposition in the new Parliament will in I'aet be non-existent not merely in numbers but also in personalities, for the old Nationalist parly, formed 20 years ago by the celebrated Alustapha Paslm Kamel, has obtained only three scats for comparatively unknown deputies, while the Liberal Constitutionalists, headed by the generally respected and popular Adly Paslm Yeghen, who directed the u-:-siiocessfnl negotiations with the British Government in 1921, lias seemed, hi live seats, and of these only one is held by anyone of any importance. LANDED INTERESTS LMPOTKN!’. The interesting feature in these c!options has been the complete iadtuv of the landed proprietors to hold their own, and, consequently, the breakdown of the feudal system that lias existed in Fgvpt since ancient times. Time and time again in centres where the Zaghlulist candidate was entirely unknown, the electors voted to a mail L r 1 .in and deserted the large lauded pro; victor, whose family had been in Dio district

for generations, and whose m-"iiii?‘S had invariably been elected to whatever representative body had existed. To a ceitain extent this failure of the vested interests is due to over-confi-dence and lack of organisation on the part of the Liberal Constitutionalists. There is, however, no doubt that Zagulul, has, in spite of all prediction:; to the contrary, turned out to be as great a name to conjure with in Egypt today as it was during the great events of 191!). Among the defeated candidates was the Prime Alinister, who had declined to present himself at the elections, f-i.t was nominated, in spile of himself, by his supporters. His failure, couoi-'-d with the overwhelming success of 1 l-e Zaghlulists, precipitated matters, and brought about an unexpected ALctstorial crisis. It had been agreed that tlie Yeliia Cabinet should conti.i:to in

office, no mill ter what the result t;l the elections might be, until Parliament assembled, when it would present if - resignation, and leave the selection of a new Government In the Chamber of Deputies. Rut there was such an outcry from the Zaghiulist rank and file that the Cabinet had to submit its resignation light away, and its place has now been taken by a Ministry headed by Sand Zagblul Pasha himself. The new Cabineh is, in its own way, a strong combination, for it includes two ex-Prome Ministers, both of whom are outstanding personalities, and it has a good sprinkling of new and young blood. For the first time on iccord two Christians have received portfolios. Hitherto it has been unwritten law that one portfolio should he reserved for the native Christian community, and this increase is no doubt the reward to the Copts for the supprol they have given to the Independence movement. Another in to-resting feature is that two of the new Ministers wove condemned in 1922 to seven years’ imprisonment. and a fine of L.E.5000 for publishing an infiamntnry manifesto against Great Britain, and that, including Zaghlul Pasha himself, throe of the members of his Cabinet were exiled to the Seychelles at the end oT 1921.

Now that the elections are over, the main interest lies in the direction- of the line of action that the new Cabinet will follow. Sand Pasha, in his letter accepting office, declared that his assumption of the Premiership must not lie regarded ns an acknowledgment of any situation or any right that had been denounced by his party (the Wald), of which lie remained the head, that- the country had plainly shown that it was unanimous in approving of the policy enunciated by him, and that be intended to bring that policy to fruition by securing the complete independence of Egypt and of the Sudan DENUNCIATION OF BRITISH CONTROL. The AVafd has persistently denounced the British Declaration of February 28. 1922, removing the Protectorate over Egypt and recognising the latter's independence as well as the Act of Indemnity passed last summer by means of which material law was abolished. It has characterised these measures as unsatisfactory and inconsistent with flic dignity of the nation, and in vievof what its leader, now Premier, has said it is generally expected that at an early date he will move for their revision. In Zaghluist circles it is freely admitted that much is hoped for from

the advent of a Labour Cabinet, and Saad Pasha himself only a few days ago referred to the very friendly relations existing between him and Mr Kahisay MacDonald, from whom lie, expected great things, It is therefore certain that the Zaglilulists will endeavour to profit from wbat they consider to be for them a favourable situation in England, The unknown quantity is, of course, the view that the Labour Party may tako of the present situation in Egypt. The position to-day it very different front what it was a year ago. Egypt has now her independence recognised; ! she has been accorded a democratic Constitution, and direct British interference in her internal affairs has come completely to an end. Certain questions vital- not only to the British Empire hut also to ths international situation in Egypt, have been reserved for ii.tuie negotiation, but the date of that negotiation has been left entirely to too Egyptians to fix. At the present moment, therefore Egypt has no just cause for grievance against us, and it is difficult to see how any British Government could make concessions until proper negotiations have taken place. In any ease, no settlement will be possible that ignores our dominions, who have a vital interest in our position on the Suez Canal; secondly, the peculiar situation in which we are placed in regard to the foreign communities whose Governments would themselves not hesitate to intervene if any alteration took place affecting our ability to protect their subjects; and, finally, our sop; ini obligations in the Siui-

Ifowever much the Labour Party may want to amend the situation in the direction for which the extremist Egyptians clamour, they will certainly he restrained 'hv the knowledge that any such action would not only meet w ith the strong opposition of not only the Conservative, but also the Liberal, party, both of whom are identified with the policy of which the declaration of February 28, 1922, was the expression. Both have given very definite pledges in regard to the question to the dominions which arc principally concerned with our position, in Egypt and on the Suez Canal, and to Lancashire. which is heavily committed in the Sudan, and would not tolerato anything tending to alter the regime that has pro veil so successful there. NO CHECK IN PARLIAMENT

There seems little likelihood that any proposals submitted b the Zaghlul Cabinet, no matter how extremist they may he in their effect, will be rejected by the new parliament, and it is in the complete subservience of both Houses to Zaghlul Pasha and his party that the great danger lies in the near future. Indeed the unexpected neecssiou to power of Hie extremists may well prove of evil omen for both the country and ourselves. Under the Constitution proclaimed last April the Chamber of Deputies is entirely elected, while 40 per cent, of the Senate lias to he nominated by the King. This latter was a wise provision amt wrs inserted with a view to enabling the Upper House to exorcise some check over the decisions of the Lower Chamber. Unfortunately the filial elections for the Senate have not yet been concluded, and the King has*still to make his nominations. Had the Yellia Cabinet, as wRs intended, remained in office until Parliament met, the nomination of Senators would have given rise to no anxiety, for in such matters the King has to he guided hv the advice of his Ministers and as tin* Yehia Cabinet bad no political attachments the 40 per cent of the Senate would have been composed b-f nou-pnrtv men selected rather for their knowledge ol affairs a.ml theii tiied experience ainl sound judgment than for their political opinions. And the cheek that it was intended to provide over the House of Down lies would have existed.

The sudden turn which the political situation took, completely upset matters. and a Zaghlulist Cabinet being now in power it will naturally follow that the nominees to the ,Senate will all he partisans of Zaghul Pasha, and ho will thus have an overwhelming majority in bit'll Houses. This is bad enough hut what aggravates the situ-

ation is that compared with the' Ch: other of Deputies, which can be dissolved at any moment, and the mcmhorn of which have a. maximum mandale of live tears, the Senate cannot he touched and its members have a mandate of ten years. In other words, toe restraining inllnence which the Senate was intended to exercise, and would undoubtedly have exercised, over t e deliberations and decisions of the lower House will not exist,.