EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1924, Page 2

EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

[II EDTEPH Tit I, F.G 1! AMS. ] SEIZURE OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. LONDON, November 25. Cabinet considered the matter of Egypt for an hour and a half. 1 hen it sent flesh instructions to Lord AlIcnby, who Inis been endowed with wide discretionary powers, blit the LV.binet’s present tendency is to await the effects of the change in the Egyptian Cabinet. It is understood that the British Govefninciit’s plans, apart I min a seizure of the Egyptian customs tit Alexandria, are to in: hide the British occupation of the Egyptian Government offices at Cairo, and also the Cost OHiccs and Telegra[ h Offices. CUSTOMS TAKEN OVETS. CAIRO, November 21. One hundred matiiics landed at Alexandria on the Customs Quay, and they occupied the Egyptian Customs Offices. The occupation apparently did not in ter fere with the <>:dinary routine, as all was quiet, anil the majority ol the population were unaware ol the event.

M I I.ITA BY DEMONSTRATION. CAIRO. November 21. The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment paraded in Cairo this afternoon. EGYPTIAN'S SENT EBOM SOUDAN. CAIRO. November 21. The evacuation from Iroin the Soudan of the Egyptian officers and army units is proceeding, according to plan. BRITISH ARMY IN EG YET. LONDON. November 25. The British troops in Egypt number fifteen thousand, ns compared with tbo Egyptian Army ol seven thousand. 'i'lie transport ship Newralia is calling at Gibraltar, to embark the First blast Kent regiment lor Egypt. warsiiienTmobilised. LONDON. November 25. The warships Iron Duke and Malaya have been ordered lront Malta, to Alexandria and Port Said respectively. The light cruiser. Caradoc. now in Greek waters, and two destroyers, at Port Said, have been ordered to Suez.

NEW MINISTRY. CAIRO. November 21

/ininr Pasha lias completed a new Ministry, which is of a distinctly moderate complexion. The personnel is as follows: /invar Pasha Premier and Minister of the Interior. A skid ZuHicnr Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zaki Abou Scorn! - Aliuister of Justice. Sulky- Minister of the Department of Pious Eonmintions. Sade Kvebia—Aliuister of War. LONDON. November 25. In the press satisfaction at ZaghInl's resignation, flic only dissentient is the Labour paper, the ‘ Daily Herald.’' whose political corres) oiuleiil savs: ’‘Egypt is being compelled to give up lier great popular leader, and to accept a system of pup.p't Ministries. who are 1-0111 rolled from the Residencies.*’

WHAT CUSTOMS SEIZURE MEANT. LONDON. November 25. Tile ‘‘Daily Chronicle” expresses tin opinion t luit the Egyptian outlook is now better. It.says: ‘-Events moved rapidly on Monday, but without any bitch from the British standpoint. Nr Egyptian Government can carry oil long without the Alexandrian customs, which provide one quartc.r ol the Egyptian taxation, so Premier Zaghlul ami King Fuad had no difficulty in finding a successor to the former. Ihe British Government ran risks, hut can only rejoice if events show' that tbev have • ab-ulated rightly. la t us hope tin bill of costs will not be unduly large.”

THE NATIONAL LEADER CAIRO. November 2d. Tlie ox-l’remier, Zagblul Pasha, bad a great ovation in tbo Chandler, lie said lie would support any Ministry working for the good ol the country. Ho exhorted the nation to remain calm in these anxious times. The 'extreme LNalionalis-ts accused Zaghlul of weakness. They declared that he had not protected tbo dignity of the country, CAIRO. November 2d. The Egyptian lloit.se lias appointed a Committee to examine and report upon various motions, mostly to the ell'e.'t that the Egyptian Parliament protests to the Parliaments of the world and to the League of Nations against the British action. LONDON GRATIFICATION. LONDON. November 2d.

The news of Zagblul Pasha’s resignation of the Premiership of Egypt was re-eived with feelings of telief. The prevailing impression of the press is that it materially eases the situation. Ziwar Pasha, the new Premier, is described as practically a non-party man. about sixty, but still active. He is a leader of not unattractive pcsonatily. with twinkling eves and a genial smile, whatever the difficulties may be. lie was formerly a Judge ol the Egyptian High Court, lie has been a mender of several Cabinets. More I'ciently. he was the first Egyptian Ambassador to Rome, whence be was recalled t > become the President of the Senate. Practically the only dissentient voice is the Labour paper, the “Daily Herald.”

A REPLY TO CRITICISM. LONDON. November 2d. Tlie '‘Morning Post” says: ‘'Foreign countries are im lined to criticise .Mr Raldwin’s policy. They must 10niember that the C’aiio crime is the political outcome ol many years ot a j obey of intransigence, intrigue, and unreality by the Egyptian polite iaiis. KEEN AMERICAN INTEREST. NEW YORK. Nov. 21. American papers are giving much front page space to the Egyptian troubles. They are reporting all Hm latest developments by numerous cables.

NEW YORK PAPER’S COMMENT. NEW YORK. Nov. 2d. The “Evening Sun” to-day in ai editorial says: “It must !>•• ussumeci

that the British Government has good reason to believe Hint the Egyptian administration either knew ol the plans for the murder of the Sirdar or else that it knows wlm are the as-assiiis. or that the Egyptian < hiyernment could not be expected to punish the crime if I,.it to it-ell. There is no other tenabb- explauati if the ultimatum. whit'll is almo't as astounding as that which \ 11st ria sent Scrvia in IHI I. Furthermore, there was a good deal more than merely Egypt involved in the -\\ ill action taken by the Baldwin (iovernment in the present ca-'o. Had Britain acted weakly every Mohammedan. from Cairo to Calcutta, would have interpreted that weakness as an evidence of British tear ol an Islamite uprising. Tn reading the Riot Act to Egypt in the way 'it was done, the Baldwin (lovernment has read the Riot Act to all Islam, telling it that methods of assassination are not likely to promote whatever there may be that is legitimate in its Nationalistic aspirations. The last word in the judgment on British policy cannot yet be spoken; but this, at least, may 1m -aid. that there i; not a turner of the British Empire, but knows that there are now in power in London ft group of men

who have the strength of their convictions.’’ FRENCH OPINION. PARIS, Nov, 23, All the newspapers recognise Hu! gravity of the Egyptian crisis. “I.<! Temps” says: ‘‘Even admitting Britain’s military movements are only meant to intimidate Egypt, it must he recognised that there are other ways of doing things. The English way. on this occasion, is not the best way to facilitate a peaceful settlement. Britain lias detailed demands which seem to elinlirm the impression that it is a question of an indirect imd disguised return to the British dominion of Egypt, like that which existed prior to the abolition of tlie British protectorate over the country. BRITISH PRESS OPINION. LONDON, Nov. 25. The ‘‘Daily Telegraph” says: ‘‘The era of ill-definition. mere argument, sentimentality and fear of the world's opinion is gone. It is not only in Egypt that our new-found resolution is likely to hear fruit. We have borne patiently with the hostility and tortuous malevolence of many Oriental demagogues. but at last our patience is exhausted, and more than one Eastern race will do well to draw a moral from present action.”

The ‘‘Daily Express’s” Geneva correspondent reports that it is unlikely that the League of Nations will intervene in the Egyptian crisis. The hulk of opinion regards the affair entirely as a domestic one. and as outside the scone of the League, which must not become a last refuge of assassins or incompetent malevolent administrations.

LATE SIRDAR'S CHAUFFEUR. HASTINGS. Nov. 25.

Mr .Lick L. Brnitliwaite, late captain ill the A. and N.Z. Signal Squadron. states that Major Halbert, of Christchurch, i.s mistaken in believing that tlie driver of the late Egyptian Si, d n’s car was a New Zealander. Mr Braithwaite says there was a member of the New Zealand Signal Troop named Marsh, who is evidently the mail referred to by Major llulbert. Fred Marsh, however, is an Australian, and a particularly dashing one. During the Sinai and Palestine campaigns lie was a motor cycle despatch rider, and was one who could invariably he relied upon to “get there." no matter how appalling the conditions. He was a member of Brailliwaite’s troop in the Signal Squad.

SI ILDAR’S CHAUFFEUR. WELLINGTON. November 21

Careful search lias been made of base records to trace details regarding Fred March, or Marsh, the chauffeur of the late Sirdar, who displayed great gallantry when the ear was attacked.

There is no trace of anyone of that name, or approximating to that desorption, in tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force records.