LORD LLOYD AND HIS ANTAGONISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1928, Page 4

LORD LLOYD AND HIS ANTAGONISTS

(By Sill PER CIV A L PHILLIPS, who recently visited Egypt on behalf of the London “Daily Mail.”) There are two outstanding personalities in the new Egyptian crisis, Lord Lloyd, the British High Commissioner, and Sarwat Pasha, the Prime Minister who took back the proposed treaty from London. King Fuad is a doubtful third. He may be included because of his official position, but his influence over the bulk of the Nationalist movement is almost negligible. Sarwat Pasha himself has almost passed out of the picture. He promised more than he could fulfil, and he knew it. He took back a treaty to which he had given his approval, although well aware that the retention of British troops in the country would never be agreed to by his extremist countrymen. .1 can imagine him, after months of mental anguish, during which lie repeatedly put off the day ol disclosure, retreating at last, very thankfully, into the background. Sarwat deserves a measure of sympathy. Never a great statesman, he was doubly handicapped in his difficult task of trying to reconcile Egyptian demands with British policy by the fact that he followed in the footsteps of a much more able lender, Zaghlul Paslm. The latter was a match for any European when it came to the parry and thrust of diplomatic negotiation, and he was bitterly and consistently anti-British. As for Lord Lloyd, the Egyptians respect him they they hate him. He has courage and strength of purpose. His suave manner is the modern counterpart of the velvet glove. Behind it is an iron will. More than that, he lias a profound knowledge of the tricks and traps of the Oriental mind.

I remember that when in Cairo more than two years ago, at a time when Lord Lloyd was still an unknown quantity to the Egyptians, a prominent native official who was very friendly to the British, said to me : “ AY hat is your Lord Lloyd? We can make nothing of him. He smiles and talks, but be says nothing, although be always listens. Even the women are discussing him among themselves as a mystery nobody can fathom, and when men carry such subjects to their wives you may bo sure they are puzzled indeed.” Lord Lloyd learned the value of inscrutability when lie first dealt nitli the mentality of the East as Lieuten-ant-Governor of Bombay. He went to Cairo with an open mind, open ears, and closed lips, lie listened to everyone. The Residency was always available to any representative ol any political faction who desired to state a case. He gathered his information from all sorts anil conditions of men. Many Egyptians made the mistake of concluding that this receptiveness was a sign of ignorance and of weakness. When Lord Lloyd began to speak definitely they realised that he meant what lie said. .More than that, they realised that lie could follow them up all tlio winding lanes and back alleys of their mind without ever losing himself, and eventually hale them back to cold facts in a most disconcerting way. The Young Egyptians loathe him because bo lias their measure accurately , also because be is the best dressed man in Cairo. You may be sure that at any official or social function the British High Commissioner will be the smartest figure there. His countrymen resident in Egypt, while criticising certain aspects of bis administration, have told me without exception that they admire him and have faith in him because of bis staunch support ol British interests while at all times showing sympathy with the legitimate aims of the Nationalist movement. He is alert, athletic, a keen lover of sport, and curiouslv youthful in appearance. lie has enormous vitality; and his love of work without regard to office hours has at times driven his staff almost to despair.