EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 164, 28 November 1912, Page 4

EGYPT.

Lord Kitchener recently protested against the withdrawal of British battleships from the Mediterranean, and his protest would not be without some reason. It has been pointed out that Britain's title to be in Egypt at all has never yet been specifically accepted bv the Great Powers. The'best that can be said of the title is that France agreed by the Convention of 1904 not to question it, and that Germany has maintained a discreet reserve on the subject. However, as she openly challenged Britain's right to present Prance with a title to Morocco, it may be conjectured that at the proper time she may with equal protest question France's right to present Britain with a title to Egypt. Meanwhile Britain is in possession. She has established an extreme'ly strong claim to be the paramount Power in Egypt, and she defends her claim by means of the British Army of occupation, 5000 strong, and the Egyptian Army, commanded and led by British officers, numbering 20,000 troops. It has recently been made a ground of complaint against the British Government that_ Egypt was insufficiently garrisoned in view of the importance of the situation. It has been declared that the unchallenged possession of Egypt, is a prime necessity to the security of the Empire, and possibly in the general scramble for territory, in which Great Britain has no desire to share, one good result may be the strengthening of the grip upon 'Egypt. One authority sets forth decisively that the retention of paramount 'control in Egypt—which commands the Suez Canal—is essential to Great Britain. . A successful attack upon Egypt would make Britain's interior line' of communication with her Eastern him'pire and with- Australasia untenable. It is also pointed out that while Turkey isMieing threatened openly with dismemberment by her tributary- State, Egypt is'free from attack, secure in the guardianship of Great Britain. Austria has annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy has annexed the vilayet of Tripoli, Bulgaria. Servia and Greece are in de facto occupation of Kossovo, Macedonia, Salonika and Boumelia between them, and the Sultan-is reported to be preparing for flight into Asiatic Turkey—but Egypt alone is still the untouched tributary State. She owes that happy circumstance to the protection of the Power that has occupied her territory since 18S3. when Frence resigned from the condomimun in consequence of Arabi's rebellion, and left Britain to exercise the paramount authority alone. It is fortunate for Egypt that she has a strong protector, at the present time. Otherwise she would assuredly be snapped up in the general division of Turkish territorial property, which appears to be impending. It is improbable that, any other master would grant her so much real liberty as Britain has conceded to her or would be able to rival Britain in the rapidity with which the country has been developed and made materially prosperous since Lord Cromer took office as British Agent 25 years ago.