IN EGYPT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1929, Page 8

IN EGYPT

— WITH I)I?AWAiv OF BRITISH TROOPS. MR WINSTON CHUECUIL STATES HIS FEARS. LONDON, December 24. Discussing the Government's policy with Egypt, Mr Winston Churchill said that acceptance oi the treaty in its present form and the withdrawal of troops 'from Cairo were more likely to lead to bloodshed and a tense and dangerous situation in the Mediterranean than if the Government went on as it were, which proceedings were both difficult and unsatisfactory, but the Government must be careful, in seeking clarity, not to set in tram events which would lead to a shocking and sanguinary disaster. The retirement to the canal was pregnant wit'h danger, and any substantial increase in Egyptian troops at Cairo would require a counter reinforcement ol British troops on the canal. We could at any time while we retained the canal zone advance upon Cairo and win another Tel-el-Kebir, he said but did we want to do this? Labour members: Who wants to?

Mr Churchill said that it was a situation which none wanted to see The treaty should impose a limit on Hie size of the Egyptain forces, otherwise it was simply equivalent to manufacturing explosives in a retort. Lord Thomson obviously had misgivings when be mentioned that armoured cars could reach Cairo from the canal in six hours. Was part of the Government’s plan to keep a mobile force on the canal to advance, if necessary, on Cairo? It was advisable to bring to the notice of the House what the Government had in mind. (Ministerial, laughter). Mr Churchill added: Eith-”-we must be prepared to concede in fid 1 the Egyptian claims in relation to the Sudan or face continual quarrelling with those forces in Egypt at whose behest we were evacuating Cairo, which would resound throughout Asia Tt would be better to leave the British troops at Cairo, conceding to Egyptian sentiment every consideration usage and every guidance to self-develop-

ment. He urged the Government to insist on the limitation of Egypt’s army, the abandonment of conscription'. He believed Lord Lloyd’s dismissal bad been interpreted by the Arabs as an inherent British weakness, therefore it was the direct precursor of the Palestine massacres. (Labour cries of “Shame.”)

Mr Churchill emphasised the farce of the Egyptian elections when not a single Liberal dared to stand. They were confronted by the bitterest foes of Britain and be predicted that long before three to five years events would occur in Cairo affording a brutal demonstration to the • need of British troops. (Labour cries: “Shame”.) Mr Churchill believed that the Government would he long enough in office to reap some of the folly and evil sown. A LIBERAL OPINION. Sir Herbert Samuel pointed out that independence was the dominant con-, sideration of the T 922 declaration. Mr Churchill thought always in terms of strategy, troops and war. That spirit retarded progress. He was prepared to take the risk that came from goodwill. It was time the reserved points were settled. There appeared to be no margin for further concessions in the treaty.