RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS

Southland Times, Issue 24239, 24 September 1940, Page 5

RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS

Demand For Egypt To Fight

GOVERNMENT RESOLVED TO FULFIL PROMISE

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received September 23, 6.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 22,

The Cairo correspondent of The Times says that the Waadist Party withdrew its Cabinet representatives on the ground that the Government had failed to carry out its undertaking to declare war if Italy invaded Egypt. The Prime Minister, Hussan Sabry Pasha, refused to allow the incident to lead to a Cabinet crisis and obtained. the King’s consent to replace the resigned Ministers by combining some portfolios and drawing on Ministers without portfolio. The Cabinet supports the Prime Minister’s contention that the Italian occupation of 60 miles of waterless desert is unimportant and does not represent an attack. Should the threat to Egypt increase the Government’s resolution to defend the country will be fulfilled. The Government now depends on the Waadists for support.

Martial law has been declared in Egypt. This is described as a purely precautionary measure which follows on the partial mobilization last year. “Cautious waiting over Italy’s intentions” is described as the attitude of the Egyptian Cabinet. If the Italian attitude develops into direct aggression, it is stated, Egypt will fight. The Government is taking no hasty decisions. MINISTER’S STATEMENT The four Cabinet Ministers who recently resigned, said that it was better for Egypt to suffer the penalties of war than for her to leave the defence of her territory to another Power. British warships have shelled Italian forces on the Egyptian coast. Attacks were also made by bombers of the Fleet Air Arm on Italian positions at Sidi Barrani during the early hours of the morning. These followed on Saturday’s attacks, in which much damage was done. Two Italian planes were driven off in an attack on Aden.

Cyprus was raided for the first time yesterday morning, when enemy planes bombed and machine-gunned Morphon. There were no casualties and no material damage.