The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1924. HOLDING THE SUDAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1924. HOLDING THE SUDAN.

Tin-: cables indicate that there is a goon deal of naval and military preparation on tin* pait of Great Britain for tin* purpose of holding tho •Sudan, flu* British licet in and about Malta Is on the alert and several ships have been moved into improved positions, while troops are being held in readiness for any fresli developments. It is some time now since Mr Itnm.say MacDonald, the Prime Minister, in the House ot Commons, and fjord Parmoor, on behalf of tho Government, in the House of Ismls, made it plain that the British Government was not going to be elbowed out of the .Sudan. Lord Parmoor said in very plain terms that his Majesty's Government was not going to abandon the Sudan in any sense whatever, and the latest preparations reported over the cable, liear outthis definite statement. The London “Daily Mail" of a late date, referring to the subject went on to say that the whole British public stood behind the Government in this firm attitude. Those two declarations of Ministers in Parliament should (the pa[*er thought) do much to clear up the position, and to remove the illusions which nre apparently entertained bv the Egyptian extremists, who talk

as if the Sudan were their own private possession, in defiance of history and of facts. The Sudan was lost more than a generation ago through the inefficiency of the Egyptian armies and the cruelty of Egyptian rule. It W'ns recovered by the efforts of that great British soldier. Lord Kitchener alter General Gordon had given his heroic life for its lcoj.le. I lider the Egyptians tin* slave trade was rite, and there was an active lin flic in Negro hoys and girls, who were sold on tin* Cairo market. It is unthinkable that any British Government should allow this traffic to he restored, but that would be the certain and swift result if the British administrators and troops withdrew. The Sudanese differ 111 race from the Egyptians. They arc a strong and martial people, not entile to be turned over to an alien administration. They luite the Egyptians. wherens they respect and like the British, because they see that British rule secures even-handed justice. The most definite alid explicit pledges have been given to them that they shall not b ( i restored to that Egyptian administration against which in tin* past tliev rose in rebellion. The Sudan is already practically paying its way, and then* is every indication, given sound government, that it "ill provide a surplus in the not distant future. Very large sums of British money have been invested there, and every penny of this would lie risked or lost if Egyptian control were restored. The Egyptian malcontents are the cause of the trouble evidently, hut now that the matter is being taken in hand, the show of torn* should have a. quietening effect on the situation. and trouble should be avoided.