TURKEY AND EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 172, 29 December 1914, Page 6

TURKEY AND EGYPT.

WHAT INVASION MEANS. AN EXPOSURE OF THE FORTE'S DOUBLE DEALING. The news that Turkey is taking advantage of the present world crisis by preparing to invade Egypt will be received with little surprise in diplomatic circle* and less surprise in Egypt, writes Mr. Sydney A. Moseley, an Egyptian journalist, in the London Daily News. The possibility of such a coup when occasion ottered itself was ever contemplated by those of us in the Land of Paradox who hud any dealings with th; Turkish politicians. Ever plausible and cunning, the Turk, nevertheless, was un;able to hide his double dealings with those in authority and those who ofi'ered him friendship. The encouragement given to the Nationalists was easily traceable to Constantinople; and the complete fiasco of that movement revealed all the plainer the muddling brain of the wire-puller of Stamboul. When I was last at Constantinople, shortly before war broke out, I stayed at a hotod where conclaves between Turkish politicians and leaders of the so-called Nationalist party were held regularly. Turkey then undoubtedly carried on a deliberate scheme against British rule in Egypt. She it was who backed the Nationalists; who backed her we now know too well. THE EGYPTIAN FELLAH.. What are her chances, however, as a result of her long sowing? Let us take it, for the sake of illustration, that she succeeds in overcoming the opposition which has longe ben prepared against any such move of hers. Take it that once more she becomes possesses of Cairo and Alexandria. What will be her reception? We know enough of Turkish despotism to feel that her very threat of invasion would fill the millions of the fellaheen with hopeless- | ness and dismay. The blue-shirted laborer—Lord Kitchener's protege —may have a bad memory and a worse sense of ingratitude, but he is human enough to realise when the very foundation of nis peacefulness and contentment are threatened. He may, in the near past, have taken the change from tyranny to tranquility rather to casualty, but you may be sure that when the hideous and threatening form of his late Turkish taskmasters appears again en the horizon, ho will become leas casual, and more inclined to ask questions. Whatever the wily Nationalist has been able to accomplish he has completely failed in his efforts to poison the mind of the fellah. Perhaps the Egyptian agriculturist is still unaware of the new role Lord Kiicl.-ncr is playing on behalf of England. He is very likely unaware that "liic Lord" has prolonged hia stay in Lnjland. He has become so used to leave the present and the future in the hands of "his idol that the prospect of ft Turkish invasion has probably never occurred to him. He may be inclined to disbelieve it when he it told of Turkey's intentions, He may only realise it' when it is too late. So tlmt Turkey's reception by the fellah would bo one of humiliation and fear. TIIE FKLENDLY ARMY. The attitude to be expected of the, Egyptian Army is, in my opinion, one of continued friendliness to their English friends and teachers. There ia no reason to believe that the Egyptian -.rordier would be ready to exchange his present assured position—even though it is a secondary one —for the problematical guardianship of the Turk. He, in common with subject races everywhere, may sometimes dream of an Egypt for the Egyptians, but he never likes to dream of an Egypt for the Turks, which would be more of a nightmare to him. So far as the European element is concerned, it is fairly obvious that all to a man would be hostile to the Turk as an invader. . The Government have already dealt with the Germans and Austrians, so that hardly any trouble may be expected from those quarters. It will be seen, therefore, that Turkey can expect precious little help from internal Egypt. If she holds the country at all, it will only be at the point of the bayonet or the butt of the rifle. Will it come to that? I

I may perhaps be allowed to give a indication of how fully awar» British Government were of. what wa* likely to happen, as soon as war broke out. I was dining with a very high Egyptian oflicial who had just come from an interview with Lord Kitchener.

"I am returning to Egypt to-day," he informed me, to my astonishment, for lie had only arrived the day before. ''Turkey?" I simply required. "Yes," he replied after a pause. "But," he added, very significantly, "\vc shall be quite ready for her."

It might only be added that if lingland felt, strong enough to spare one of tile best commanders of lier troops in Egypt—General Byng, who lias gone to Franco—there need be no ground for fear among those who do not know the state of affairs in Egypt. Before General Byng left—and 1 am informed that he postponed his departure from Egypt till the last moment —all preparations were made to deal with any possible attempt, of invasion. The oificcr now in command, General Maxwell, may assuredly be left in confidence to deal with any new situation that may arise. MO RELIGIOUS PROBLEM. One more point—that of religion. Too much lias been made 1 fee], ol' this brotherly love betweeif"Mohammedans. The followers of this wonderful religion are not all fanatics. They are. as capable of understanding as many of their critics. The Egyptian Nationalists, witli whom 1 came into contact during my two years' residence in Egypt adduced many reasonable arguments towards their plea of Self-government; they, however, never advanced the religious plea. They never spoke of Turey with tins "brotherly sympathy" which is claimed to belong to this followers of Mohammed irrespective of the worth of its individuals." One of the most persistent of these Jvat.ont'istst gave me, on the contrary, a cynical view of the religious professions of the Turk. From what I myself liaTo seen of him in Europe, Asia, and Africa, I was \:■! I:er inclined to agree with him. At n!:.v rate, I am certain that tho eternal fear of the Christian that Mahominedans will back their co-religionists reasonably or unreasonably is much exaggerated. The idea has been spread by the nervous and by tho mischievous. That Great Britain has no fear in this direction can he observed in the fact .that among those sent to ISjrypt to preserve order from within ami* from without are our gallant Indian troops.