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Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 256, 21 June 1932, Page 7

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egypt's government SIDKY PASHA SH.OWS HIMSELF FIRM AND.BUSINESSLIKE. RESPECT FOR 3BRITAIN. The Government which took office in Egypt under Ismali Pasha Sidky in June, 1930, is beginning to attain a respqctable maturity: Not often since the war has an Egyptian Cabinet lasted more than 18 months. Sidky Pasha has shown himself firm, business-like, and astute in the conduct of affairs, and foreign observers are agreed that his Government is as efficient as any that could be obtained in Egypt to-day. ... ... ' He has certainly outgeneraled his opponents. Thanks partly to amendments in the electoral law, and partly to vigorous "making" of the elections, but aided also by the tactical blunder , of the Wafd in refusing to nominate candidates for the polls, he was able to secure last summer the eleetion of , a Parliament .which gives him almost unanimous support. He completely mastered the attempts of the Wafd ■to disturb the elections, and he has forced it since to desist entirely from agitation in the provinces. New Followers. . His success has had the effect of bringing over to his side several important persons who had joined the Opposition at the time of the elections. Two ex-Prime Ministers Ziwar ' Pasha and Adly Pasha, who signed the protest against the changes in the Constitution and the electoral law, have since shown themselves j ready to co-operate with the Government, and there has been a steady trickle over of lesser lights from the Opposition camp. The Prime Minister's command of the situation was confirmed at the reopening of Parliament in December, writes the Cairo correspondent of The Times, Rumours had been circulating that the Wafd would again try conclusions with the Government and seelc to provoke a public d&monstration against the holding of a Parliament which it considers illegal. But beyond the issue of a flamboyant manifesto by Nahas Pasha and a fresh outburst of activity in the Opposition newspapers, nothing happened. The electorate showed no inclination to be moved by the event, and the Opposition leaders prudently forebore from further attempts to move it. The King's speech showed a handsome record of work done and a full programme for the coming session. British Influence. It was rather surprising to find, not much more than a week later, that rumours were going the rounds of the cafes and newspaper offices to the eifect that Sidky Pasha was about to resign and be succeeded by a "National" Cabinet, comprising members of all parties. There rumours were credited by quite seriously minded persons. There was apparently no other basis for them than the fact that certain meetings had taken place between members of the Residency staff and representatives of the Opposition, to secure contact between the Residency and Egyptian political opinion outside the Government. But this was sufficient to make the politically minded believe that the British Government was already thinking of Sidky Pasha's successor, The Prime Minister himself was sufficiently affeeted by them to issue more than one denial. The incident was a startling reminder not merely of the credulity of the Egyptian people, but of the fact that, under present. conditions, the fate of any Egyptian Government actually rests in British. hands, no matter how strongly the British Government may insist on its neutrality. British Governments have, on more than one occasion, expressed their readiness to end the British military occupation of Egypt by a treaty negotiated with an Egyptian Government which is thoroughly representative of the Egyptian people and bases its authority in free elections. It has only to make it clear that it does not consider the Government of the day to be sufficiently representative to conclude an effective treaty to undermine its authority and bring about its resignation. This has already happened more than once. May Become Half-hearted. Sidky Pasha's nervousness is, therefore, not quite so unintelligible as it might at first sight appear. He has his ofiicials to think of. If they believe that they are going to change masters before long they may become half-hearted in the performance of their duty. Still more demoralising may be the effect on all those sitters on the fence whom he is trying to win over for a Government in the eyes of the Egyptian people has come to be its ability to conduct trer negotiations with Great Britain, and until that condition appears likely to be fulfilled they will always be ready to speculate on the possib'.litv its fall. . Sidky Pasha took occassion to declare publicly in the Senate recently that he intended to open treaty negotiations .at the first opportunity. The British Government has given no indication that it is not prepared to meet him, though with so many important problems engaging its attention it would probably not consider the present moment very opportune. . It would probably also welcome some further proof that the present Government is the one which the fellaheen would most desire. The ab-1 stention of the Wafd and its allies from the polls last summer gaye them no opportunity of voting for any other, but the. Wafd certainly preserves a great deal of its former hold over the people. Sidky has admitted , this by preventing it from holding public meetings ever since. . , It is Sidky Pasha's aim to strangle the influence of the Wafd by giving it no means of showing itself, and by establishing the reputation of his own Government as one which has done

more for Egypt than any of its prede- . cessors. ' Deficit in Revenue. He is having a difficult time steering a course through the shoals of the' financial .crisis, but he . has dpne . nothing to relieve the troubles of the fellaheen; but for the assistance given them this autumn, there would certainly have been less ground culti-' vated in Egypt than usual. He is now faced with having to make up by some means or other a ' deficit in revenue. He has proposed a series of new taxes on motor cars ' and theatres, and a "patent tax," 1 which is apparently conceived as a' levy on the professional and trading classes. To make these an effective source of revenue he will have to obtain the. consent of the Capitulatory , Powers, and there is no sign as yet that they are prepared to give it. , : Possibly the Prime Minister is waiting for the judgment of the Mixed Court on . the question of the debt coupon, which is due to be given on May 9, to press for the consent of the Powers to the new taxes. The in-' crease in Egypt's debt charge would | give him a strong argument with 1 which to appeal for concessions.