Dec. 14, The startling rapidity with which the Egyptian crisis has assumed an entirely new complexion is only jequalied by the sudden volte face which the British Government appears to have made. It will be remembered that speaking a short white ago at the Guildhall, Sir Samuel Hoare said:-
"We have advised against the ro-enactment of the Constitutions of 1923 and 1930 since the one was proved unworkable and the other universally unpopu! was that speech which started the rioting that has continued for some weeks in various parts of Egyp!. The disorders were instigated by the Watd, the party which claims to represent over 90 per cent. of the Egyptian population, though in fact it is not in any sense the true spokesman of the uncompre-Jhending and largely illiterate peopl The reason for the agitation was that the Constitution of 1923, while bad for Egypt as a whole, was undoubtedly good for the Wafd, which in every free election had: secured 195 per cent. of the votes, and they naturally desired that it should again be put into force. While it was alleged by Nahas Pasha that the Watd had not slightest pro-Italian feeling, it been commonly alleged that Italian agitation Jcontributed greatly to the state of disorder that existed. One of the [chief points in their propaganda was to the effect that if Egypt would turn against Britain, Italy would consent to the doing away with' the capitulations. This propaganda was denied by Italian officials though they were unable to conceal: their pleasure at the turn affairs were taking in Egypt. On the balance of evidence it is justifiably concluded that Egypt in disorder completely suited the Italian book, and if they took no hand in fostering the riots they overlooked an opportunity is Impossible to believe that The position of Egypt is one of great significance, Major Jarvis Governor of Sinai, in un article published recently, puts the situa {tion most succinctly, Tu the general cry for termination Egyptians rat sight of the f graphical citua important ity being observed tunies Exypt could claim protection from an equally, great Power.
Also Egypt did not appear to realize (hat her territory has been, and always will be, coveted as a key Position. For this state of oftairs the Suez Canal is mainly responsible But it, must. be remembered. that when Napoleon dreamed of Eastern conquest at the end of the eighteenth century—sixty years before the Canal was thought of,—the invasion of Exypt was the cornerstone of his enterprise, It has always been clear, and recent events have demonstrated the fact even more definitely, that Great Britain's influence in Beypt must be paramount. It is necessary for the purpose of securing adequate protection for the route to Britain's eastern possessions, and it is obvious that any other influence in Egypt, capable at any time of becoming hostile, would seriously jeopardize Britain's position everywhere east fof Suez, So long as a discontented Egypt existed the [British position was none too comfortable, and Sir Samuel Hoare's statement at the Guildhall did roth-jing to relieve the situation. In fact it was just the sort of pronouncement which it would have been better not to. have made. The notification from the High Cora /missioner to King Fuad that Britain had no objection to the restoration
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.