BRATAIN AND EGYPT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10274, 8 May 1919, Page 6

BRATAIN AND EGYPT

PROGRISS AFTER CHAOS

PEASANTS ENJOYING PROSPERITY.

Britain's occupation of Egypt, where |>ajtion.aV-st riots! aro now causing grave anxiety, marked tho dawn ol an era of good government and progress in a country that had suffered from centuries of misrule.

The link with Turkey has now been definitely severed (says "The Times," in "Trade Supplement" for February), and although this may he said only to establish de jure a situation which was already in existence de facto, and may not iu itself materially affect the prosperity of tho country, it is of importance because it clears up, once and lor all, an anomalous situation, and hastens tho time when the capitulations, which have been so great a bar to reform and progress, will disappear. Egypt had an old cure upon her—subjection to foreign rule. Her rich plains have/lain defenceless at the mercy of the invader, and for thousands of years she was exploited by foreign conquerors. To some extent the old curse remains, for Egypt's geographical position is as vulnerable as ever, . hut it has been possible to convert this curse into a blessing, and Egypt of to-day not only enjoys unexampled prosperity, but can aspire to ultimate self-government under the protection of a Power whose liberal instincts are a World tradition.

Everyone is familiar with the events which led to tho British occupation in 1882. * Bankruptcy was imminent, life and property insecure, law and order non-existent, and this in the country through which ran the most vital artery of Empire—the all-important Suez Canal. As a matter of fact, we hesitated to intervene. Fortunately we did so, and it was Lord Cromer's task to try to change this dull and dirty picture. It was slow and uphill work, but gradually order grew out of chaos; credit was restored, stable government established, a,nd individual life and liberty were guaranteed. Vast irrigation works changed the face of the land, and assured the welfare and prosperity of tho' fellaheen.

. Lord Cromer was succeeded by Sir El don Gorst, and when" the' history of modern Egypt can bo. written with a true sense of perspective it will be better realised how much of that history was made during his short administration.

. Lord Kitchener, who followed him, did not lose sight of the ultimate end in view, namely, development of selfgovernment; but, whereas Sir Eldon Gorst's efforts were more directed to finding leaders, Lord Kitchener concentrated his attention on the rariK and file. Lord Kitchener was preeminently the friend of the fellaheen. He knew them and sympathised with them, and they realised it. Then came the war, and with it the very real danger of Turkish invasion. Egypt was declared a British protectorate, ' and troops were dispatched to protect the Canal. The Khedive Abbas, who had thrown in his lot with | the Central Powers, was deposed, and Prince Hussein Kamel appointed to his place, with the title of Sultan or , Egypt. Reference has often been made to the debt which both Great [Britain and Egypt owe to this Prince, who was a sincere patriot, with rei.markable clarity and length of vision. An official announcement" by the British Government explained that the peaceful development Of Egypt was, as before, their chief aim. and expressed tho hope that the clearer definition of Great Britain's position in the country would accelerate progress towards self-government.

It is not easy to state what progress has been made in this direction since 1914. The country is Btill under martial law, and, while it is understood that the civil authorities there have for some time past been engaged upon the elaboration of the reforms which the abolition of the capitulations will render possible, conditions arc somewhat abnormal, and must remain so as long as martial law is in force. Further, it may take some little time to reach equilibrium even when martial law has been removed.

That Egypt is prosperous is known, tor the ill-wind of war has undoubtedly blown good business ka Alexandria But how is Egypt digesting its wealth, and what will the feliah do with-the money which ho now gets for his cotton P

In all Oriental countries there is a natural prejudice agains* investment ol {money, apart from the purchaso of land. In the near future Egypt will probably want to borrow large sums for future development, and is it fanciful to suggest that some of this money might come from the country itself ? If the fellah subscribed to ioans for the development of his own country, the economic gain would be obvious, and so direct an interest of, the governed in the task of government would do more than anything to accelerate progress towards autonomy. At present rumours are heard of native claims for a greater share ia the government of the country even for an independent Egypt. Let us say at once thab tho latter aspiration is a chimera to which it would bo folly to give tho least encouragement. On tho other hand, the aspiration towards self-government may bo a hcaHhy sign, but much depends upon its origin. If tho rank and file, to whom, ns has been said, Lord Kitchener devoted his attention, are beginning' to stretch themselves nnd to feel that tho old forms of life in town and village are out of date, it is undoubtedly healthv and much good may come of it. Growing pains are normal nnd encouraging, but this movement may have its origin in tho porsoiinHntcrests of the agitator, nnd, if so, it is suspect. In all* popular movements it is tho origin that counts, and in the East signatures are easy to obtain. ' -

From tho purely comercial point of view there is a great future ahead. It is unlikely that Ejiypt will develop to any largo extent as a manufacturing country, even if she can use hor oil to replape her -present dependence upon imported coal. The Egyptian is an agriculturist, and it is rather, in this diroction that loonl development may ho expected to move. At the samp timV the difficulty which has been experienced in obtaining manufactured poods from ahrood must have thrown Egypt much more upon her own resources, and it may ho fhnt new industrip-s have •rrown up which will survive foreign; competition. Yet tho -present prosperity of tho country is duo to I?tryr>ti.in cotton, and there is; no limit i» sicht to tho demand which tho world will make for this commodity.