LAW IN EGYPT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1928, Page 4

LAW IN EGYPT

KNFORt E A IF.NT OF ORDER. IU'GHY. April 22. 'I lie text of tlie proposed Asseirfl|lies Law. which is to come before the Egyptian Senate on April .Tilth, lias reached l.oudon. and is tbe subject of unfavourable comment in I lie Press. When the Egyptian Government rejected the draft AugloFgyptiau Treaty, which had been negotiated by Sarwat Pasha ami Sir Austen Chamberlain. it.

was reminded in a commiiiiicat ion sent at the beginning of lasi month that tbe British Government would not permit tbe discharge of its responsibility for the protection id foreigners in Egypt to lie endangered by Egyptian legislation. The present Bill is regarded by the Press as having tbe effect ol laeilitating political agitation, and weakening tile bands of those whose duly it is to maintain order.

Among the clauses which attract comment are those which stipulate that police officers may attend a meeting, but can only dissolve it in two cases:

, (1) If the committee responsible for tlie meeting requests in writing that j this should ho done, or (2) in case of grave disorder, in which event the uceting can he resumed if calm is considered to have been restored.

Lighter penalties are imposed on demonstrators who contravene the law than on officials dissolving a meeting in cases other than those indicated in the Hill.

The terms of the whole measure are reported to have created misgivings among foreign residents in Egypt, and among the Egyptian police, who would have to wait for a definite breach of peace before they could take any executive action.