FUTURE OF EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1921, Page 5

FUTURE OF EGYPT.

NEGOTIATIONS DETAILED CASE FOR BRITAIN. TROOPS MUST REMAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Dec. 3. The memorandum of the negotiations between Britain and Egypt continues: The outbreak of war necessarily made the association of Egypt and Britain closer. Many thousands of British subjects from India, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Britain, were maimed and killed and their graves in Gallipoli, Palestine and Irak stood as witness to the great effort which Turkish intervention cost the British Commonwealth. Covered *by their rank Egypt passed scathless through the period of ordeal. The Government was unable to accept the arguments of the Egyptian Delegation concerning British troops. Neither the present condition of the world, nor the course of events in Egypt since the armistice would permit any modification of the disposition of the British forces. There were signs that some elements of the Nationalist movement even now were capable of plunging Egypt back into the abyss from which she had been raised. The British Government’s anxiety on this point was aggravated by the unwillingness of the Egyptian Delegation to recognise the British Empire. Britain must have firm guarantees against such a menace. The presence of British troops in Egypt was first and foremost a guarantee, which the Government could not waive or weaken. The British claims in this respect were not intended to involve the continuance of an actual or virtual protectorate. on the contrary Britain proposed to terminate ' the protectorate forthwith and recognise Egypt as a sovereign State under a constitutional monarchy. Britain’s hope was that Egypt, with a reconstituted Ministry of Foreign Affairs would dispatch her own representatives to foreign courts and Britain would readily support her application for admission to the League of Nations.

Egypt’s rejection of the proposal had. created a new situation. It would not affect the principle of British policy, but necessarily reduced the measures which could now be carried out. Britain would continue unshaken in her aims as Egypt's adviser and trustee. The true line of advance for the Egyptian people was co-operation with the Empire, not antagonism to it. The Government was prepared to consider any methods which might be suggested for carrying out the substance of its proposals whenever the Egyptian Government so desired. EXCITEMENT IN CAIRO. OVER NEGOTIATIONS’ DOCUMENTS. Received Dec. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 4. Telegrams from Cairo state that the city is agog with excitement at the publication of the documents relating to the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations. Zaghlul Pasha, interviewed, said Lord Curzon’s project could not" be accepted by any Egyptian however moderate, and would only widen the gulf between England and Egypt. Referring to the statement in Egypt concerning the statement in the explanatory fiote that the Government was opposed to any fanatic or disruptive type of nationality, Zaghlul said the threat was directed against his friends or himself, but it would not turn them from the legitimate path. They were determined to pursue their aims, and were ready to bear all the suffering such a course might entail.