South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-18
PLANS FOR
SELF COVE RNMENT
FOR EGYPTIANS
Earl CurzOn Announces Bri-
tain'S Intention to Accord
Constitutional Form.

By Asfocisted Press
WASHINGTON. Dec ff.-Great
Britain's plans for establishing a
constitutional form Of government
IN Egypt are Sc: forth in an official
statement made by Earl CurzOn,
British minister Of foreign affairs
which has been received here. OBJ
iects Of the Miner mission which
goes 10 Egypt to arrange the pro-
posed new government are described
iu the statement.
The British foreign secretary an
uounces that IL Is the intention Of
fhe British government 10 establish
the largest measure Of self-gOvern-
ment for which Egypt is believed
capable at this time. He states that
the Miner mission is not authorized
90 impose a constitution on Egypt
bat rather to study the situation and
confer with the native leaders.
Earl CurzOn's Statement.
In part. Earl Curzon's statement
follows:
"It Yves In 1914 after We had been
compelled 10 declare war upon Tur-
iaey that the British protectorate
over Egypt was declared. So far as
his being intended or indeed re-
gHrded at the time as a high-handed
act. aimed at the suppression of
Egyptian liberties. it was decided
upon by Mr. Asquith's government
as "a much milder and more geuer-
Gus policy than that of annexation,
which az that time was strongly ad-
vOcated ~ some. Cyprus. which had
long been administered by the col
ouial office as part Of the British
empire. was annexed. But the op-
portunity Of Incorporating Egypt in
The empire was deliberately, and I
think. wisely rejected because il was
Intended I'm a wide latitude Of OPP
portunity which the formulate of a
protectorate affords. to give free
scope TO the political aspirations
and the governing capacities Of
>he Egyptian people.
Il need hardly elaborate the rea-
sons for which Great Britain is com
PEELED to interest herself in the poll
teal fortunes Of Egypt, and is unable
Ia give any announcement to the
claim Of complete national indie
pendence. Quite apart from the fact
that Egypt. if left 20 stand alone.
could neither protect her frontiers
against external aggression nor
guarantee 6 strong or impartial gov
eminent at home. her geographical
position at the gate Of Palestine, at
The doorway of Africa and the high
road - India renders IL impossible
that the British empire with any
regard TO It's own security and con
ditions should wash its hands of the
responsibility for Egypt
IN Egyptian Interest.
"Egyut is Of course primarily an
~Egyptiau interest. the good govern
ment and the prosperity and happi-
ness or its people are the highest
consideration. But il is also a Brit
ish interest OF capital Importance
and / suspect that there are few
who would deny that IL is also
world interest. and that the world
iuterest is best secured by leaving
1-rypt under the aegis of a great
civilized power
"Eut within these boundaries is a
wide and ample field in hich the
Egyptians are invited 20 participate,
and must as time passes on. partici-
pate ion an ever increasing degree in
the government of their country. We
Iacoguize the legitimacy Of these as
pi-1tious. We desire 20 provide for
iheir satisfaction. The progressive
development Of self-governing insti-
ulions n Egypt IS an ideal i'm which
they may share with us and we with
them. n is not 90 be thought of that
vace like the Egyptians possessing
iu .ts upper ranks a high culture and
historic memories should be content
with "a role Of passive subordiuation
I'm the administration.
All tO Have Voice.
"Il viii be the object Of Lord Min
uer and his colleagues. in consulta-
sion with the Sultan and his minis
ters and representative Egyptians of
aI classes. TO devise the details of n
constitution 10y which all these par
Jiss shall be able in their several
spheres and I'm an increasing degree
to cooperate IN the management of
Egyptian affairs. British assistance
and British guidance viii still be re-
guired Nor viii any Of those who
have followed tho history of Egypt
for The last &C years and seen the
astounding advance that she has