The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-20
THE QUESTION OF EGYPT.

treaty The fact that this reservation is oHered Oy
democrat strong supporter of the President increases
the weight of the objections which are finding voice in
the United States against the snuffng out of the prn-
ciple Of selfdeterminaon Of well defined natonaities
President Wilson gained the support of lbetryovng men
throughout the world when he set forth that principle
and announced that it would be made effective at Paris
In so far as the conference adhered to this principle its
work was good and permanent and wherever the prin
cple was violated there have ben disorders and threats
of war
Senator Owens proposed reservation provides that the
British protectorate Egypt shall be recognized as
merely through which the nominal suzeranty of Turkey
over Egypt shall be transferred to the Egyptian people,
and shall not be construed recognition by the
United States of British sovereignty the Egyptian
people.
The story of British ascendancy Egypt, ap-
parently to eliminate in the extinction of self-govern-
ment, is comparatively brief The first occupation by
British troops was in 1882 and the ostensbe object
to suppress u rebellion against the Khedve The occu-
patton to be only temporary, according to Premier
Gladstone He declared that England had given Specific
and solemn pledges to the world" that it would not
Egypt and he added that these pledges had earned for
England the confidence of Europe. Evidently there
no intention at that time to absorb Egypt Yet the
troops we're withdrawn, and have been with
drawn Notwithstanding the persistent efforts of the
Egyptian people to the practical independence
they had enjoyed
| After the world war began the British government
| tbo Kbodi nd a
measure, and announced that Egypt placed under
British protectorate. The Egyptian people might have
been alarmed by this had not King George himself sent
letter to the Egyptians telling them that the change
but step toward the complete independence of the
people, and that the protectorate would endure only dur
ing the period This reinsurance was satisfactory
and the Egyptians Joined the allies heartily, furnishing
troops and large numbers of aborers who built the rail
roads, pipe lines and other military works in Palestin,
and elsewhere.
When the armistice signed the Egyptians believed
the day of their national independence be at hand
They sent commission Paris attend the peace con
ference and to arrange for recognition of the indptnd
ence of Egypt But the leaders of this commission
seized by British officers and deported to Malta where
they were placed in German prison camp
| From that hour there has been smolderng volcano
of revolt in Egypt The people have had several serious
clashes with British soldiers in which machine guns have
queed popular uprisings In the meantime Great Britain
has obtained from President Wilson conditional recog
milton of the protecorate Egypt and in the peace
treaty is clause requiring Germany to recognize the
protectorate.
The intentions of Great Britain toward Egypt are some
what confused in the minds of other governments on &C
of conflicting statements issued by British authority
When the Egyptian question before the Senate com
mttee foreign relations September g the British
embassy here made public stetament declaring tina
1.-The British government has carefully avoided destroying
Egyptian sovereignty" and that the British flag in Egyp
covered only British military establishments, But thu
British foreign office few days later announced tina
Great Britain had succeeded to the sovereignty of Tur
key Egypt and had acquired Egypt spos of war
apparently discardng the pledge of King George
developing new policy of permanent control Egypt
1t may be that unfortunately worded or unauthorzr
statements by British officials are at the bottom of thu
public confusion. In that a clear reaffrmation
Brns intention to relnqulsh the protectorate and re
store Egypt to its people the peace treaty il
ratified would remove all apprehension, In the mean
time taking the treaty it finds it, the Senate vii
doubtless adopt reservation the lines suggested by
Senator Owen for it is quite evident that the United
States cannot consistently subscribe general principle
of self-determnaton and independence of nations anC
yet in the voluntary absorption of Egypt by
Great NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Post
Diogenes, you recall, solved the rent problem. HI
lived in a tub.