The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1924. THE EGYPTIAN SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1924. THE EGYPTIAN SITUATION.

Till; Egyptian situation laid a special turn tins neck, arising from the trouble ill the Solid.in, where a mutiny broke out at Khartoum. This was all echo of the Cairo incidents idle, ted by the laet that Egyptian troops and oHirers wore being removed from the Soudan. The troops nlfected were coidined to a relatively small number, and the repressive measures soon allayed any danger from the outbieak, and the t. -ops were evacuated according to orders. ’I lie Soudan is under British administration, since it was roiovcrcd I rum barbarism and fanatical despotism. I’or more than a score of years the clfeet of the civilising iiillueiites of the Hritish rule have been exj erienced, and it lias been effective- undoubtedly. Ibe Sola la l use do not wish to Ik* returned under Egyptian rule, and it is not likely they will after the recent experience of government under the Egyptian National Party. When Kritnin f oil lid it necessary to occupy Egypt to secure law and order, and protect the trade route by the Suez Canal to India and Australia, it found it necossarv to take control also of the hinterland, " hell trouble was derived by raiding natives under the direction of the Khalifa. Indeed not only bad Khartoum to Ik* relieved and reoecupied. but tile whole territory bad to lie brought under stable government. Lord Kitchener accomplished the task in a manner recorded in history and familiar to all students of modern times. Since then the country has hoen transformed. Security and prosperity followed, and Soudan became a progressive eountrv with greater promise of future prosperity. Since Egypt acquired a measure of local government, there has boon the desire to attach the Soudan, and agents of the Egyptian Nationals have been credited with attempting much anti-British propaganda. It has not had a great deal of positive effect. Omitting the late mutinous action on

the part of a few troops, the evidence is rather the other way that the propaganda has failed. Hut still there was the ardent desire to have the Soudan linked up with the Government of Egypt, and when the ex-Prime Minister went to London to interview Mr Ramsay MacDonald, the request was a cardinal feature of the requirements presented to the British Prime Minister. 'I he British Government had to refuse the request. To accede to it would have undone the great work performed in the Soudan, and it would not have been fair to the Soudanese to place them under Egyptian rule and government. With an anti-British feel-

iJiJ-C prevailing in the latter quarter tlie fate of the Soudanese can lie guessed at. The country would lie in danger of slipping hack to tile conditions of the former nomadic days, and a contented people would return to a state of danger to those about them. British rule, whether in Kgvpt or Soudan, has proved a blessiing to the countries. and while there are those opposed to it, they do not by any means represent the majority. The major section are satisfied and appreciate what has been done, and is being done, and having gone so far, the British administration must la? maintained at all costs for the benefit of those chieflv concerned.