Moslem disappointments ani fears should receive happy relief from the auspicious occasion of the investiture of King Farouk with full powers as the acclaimed constitutional ruler of an independent Egypt. On two of the other four Moslem thrones young men like himself sit, King Zahir of Afgahinstan and King Ghazi of Irak, Universally respected for their great qualities of leadership and administrative capacity are the experienced rulers King Ibn Sand of Arabia and Roza Shah Pehlevi of Iran. Over Transjordania the Emir Abdulla, kinsman to the King of irak, completes the picture of Moslem hegemony in the Middle East. Since the disappearance of the Khilafat under the vigorous republican regime of President Kamal Ataturk, Egypt has taken a special place in Moslem thought. Her ancient mosque of Al Azhar a: Cairo was the seat of learning before Oxford and Cambridge Universities came into existence. It has through the centuries remained the centre of Moslem culture and if the rapid current of world thought has flowed too fiercely for the comprehension of an institution which has been conspicuously faithful to conservative traditions, recent years have seen a marked advance toward adapting the curriculum to modern needs, Al Azhar in short is taking steps to end its dependence on the outside world for guidance in present day problems. For this change the famous seat of culture owes much to the late King Fuad, the father of the monarch who has now been crowned. It is all the more fitting, therefore, that Sheikh Mustapha el Maraghi, the present rector, who has been convinced by his own wide experience of the need for broadening Al Azhar's outlook, should have been the chief celebrant of the coronation. His presence gave to the occasion an authority of undoubted significance for the whole of th: Moslem world. In China this will be the more appreciated for in th last few years Chinese moslems have made direct contact with Al Azhar. Indeed it is said that their request for guidance in the right observance of the Holy Law had an important influence in stimulating the ulema to a realization of their mosque's present-day responsibilities, To King Farouk and his enthusiastic people the warmest congratulations will go on an event Which sets the seal on the recent assumption by Egypt of the full status of independence. Thus duc effect was given to Great Britain to her recognition of that independence in principle in 1922. Here in China considerable interest has been taken in the course of the negotiations which had this happy result in the Anglo-Egyptian Treat; signed on August 26 last, for Si Miles Lampson, the last High Commissioner of Egypt and, now, Great Britain's first Ambassador to the Court at Cairo was largely responsible for that diplomatic accord and his name is still remembered by China with affectionate regard Moreover the signature of that Treaty was followed by an international conference at which all countries represented showed a happy ce-operation in disposing of the problem of capitulations. The part played by Great Britain in the making of modern Egypt is obviously important and, indeed, receives special recognition in the status of her Ambassador under the Treaty, but it should not be allowed io obscure the immense value of the services rendered by French engineers and French culture to the advancement of the same.cause.
Other countries, notably Italy and Greece, have also special interests in Egyptian affairs and their cooperation is properly noted at this time.
The international services which Egypt renders to the world as the guardian of the Suez. Canal are known to Far Eastern peoples. The task which King Farouk and his Government have to discharge in maintaining the peacefulness of their country and in developing its resources and latent springs of culture must not be underrated. It will tax the statesmanship of the newly-established regime to the full. Fortunately by his aide the King has an experienced Prim^ Minister in Mustapha Pasha Nahas who inherits the traditions of the Wafd, now mellowed by emergence from the wilderness, and commands no less loyalty from political Egypt than his predecessor in Wafd leadership, the late Zaglul Pasha. Single-minded, imperturbable, loyal and honest, are epithets which have been applied to him by a competent observer. He knows the strength and {he weaknesses of his countrymen, Outside the Government but greatly concerned in one of its chief preoccupations, the economic development of the country, is the head of the Banque Misr, that remarkable financier, Talaat Pasha Harb of whom Sir Edward Cook, the Governor of the National Bank of Egypt, once said that he presented the rare combination of the seer and the practical man of action. Within the Government the Finance Minister, Markram Ebeid Pasha, an able lawyer and brilliant orator, may be trusted to rely greatly on Talaat Pasha's experience and vision. It is well to bring these names into prominence in contemplating the new stage in King Farouk's reign, His coronation has specially caught the imagination of the British nation to whom he is well-known because of King George Vi's own recent dedication of himself at Westminster, King Farouk carries no less fervent wishes for a long and happy life on the throne of his ancestors so that he may preside over the destinies of a proud and. ancient people, whose contribution to the arts of civilization is recognized the world over.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.