El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-20

By Pharaoh-like taskmasters with
long whips into labor gangs and
herded into camps, where they died
like flies. with no proper food OF sani-
tary arrangements, ] was skeptical,
but ] have been told by Englishmen
who were in Egypt during the var
that the statement is not much ex-
aggerated-
II must be remembered the British
point out in answer 10 these cnarges
that Egypt itself was a theater Of
war. Twice the Turks attacked the
Suez canal, Egyptians were not, ike
Englishmen. sent into the trenches
they should consider themselves
lucky that they were kept out Of gun
range To which the Egyptians re-
tort that the war was no concern OF
theirs: moreover. that the conduct Of
passed through or were chartered in
Egypt was abominable.
EEyptinns Badly Treated.
The Australians. especially. are ac-
cused Of trying TO burn down Cairo
and Of tormeutinE the natives whole
sale. To this charge. too. fairminded
Engiishmeu sorrowfully admit that
the soldiers Quartered amid a dark
skinned population did undoubtedly
as Sir Valentine Chirol admitted,
treat the Egyptians as niEEers"
Turning TO the British side OF thu
controversy. il must be said for the
Egyptians that no Englishman ] have
met who defends British rule in
Egypt has word 70 say in answer TO
the claim that Britain solemnly prom
ised 81 times TO get out, and now nd
mits that 10 proposes to stay in. Cir
cumstances have changed earl Cur
ION said in the house Of lords. "aul
Great Britain IS unable 70 give any
encouraeement 70 the claim or COM
plete national independence"
Willing TO BE Helped
The ending OF British domination
IS not expected to involve the with
drawaI OF British help In the pro-
gressiTe DEVELOPMENT Of Egypt
Egypt would still require. as Japan
did Tor many years. the assistance OF
foreign cOad1utors and especially OF
technical and scientific experts in
many branches Of administrat Ion. and
would certainly seek them IN England
rather than in any other foreign
who are in Egypt today would IN
uuestionably be invited TO remain
But they would be the servants and
not the masters OF the Egypt m gov
eminent Just as the foreigners en-
plOyed IN Japan were rhe servants
and not the masters OF the japanese
government"
Distressed as the British are at the
turn events have taken. there is not
the slightest doubt that they intend
70 hold on IN Egypt.
Quite apart from the fact that
Egypt, II left 70 stand alone. could
neither protect her frontiers against
external aggression nor guarantee a
strong and impartial government at
home. its geographical position at the
gates OF Palestine, for which Il seems
likely that a special responsibility
viii before long be placed upon Brit
ISL shoulders. at the DOORWAY OF A.
rica, and on the high road TO India,
renders It impossible that the British
empire, with any regard 20 its own
securities and connections. should
wash its hands OF responsibility for
Egypt, IL Is generally thought.
Il Is my opinion. after discussing
the Egyptian troubles with repre-
sentative men in London. that Britain
VIII give Egypr measure OF autonO-
my Just as soon as convinced that this
can be done without danger TO i'm
perial interests
Afraid OF France.
But there Is one factor IN this
Egyptian middle that IS never d.
rectly mentioned. but is never far
from the British mind. That factor
is France It Is thought in London.
with what Justice 7 do not know. that
certain French interests are stu IN
reconciled to their expulsion from the
Nile valley a generation ago. Lord
Selnornes Speaking unofflciauy and
not as a member Of the i-o-nrnunenf.
SAID on this point, and pbvioIsly with
France n his mind
II we were by any lapse Of sanity
20 leave Egypt tomorrow and divest
ourselves Of any responsibility for its
future, there is nothing more certain
than that within a generation. anoth-
er great power would have taken our
place IN Egypt Egypt could not
stand without some protecting power.
When you consider that the Suez ca
nal is the gate 20 the east. and thar
behind Egypt there is now develop
Ing the great territory OF the sudan.
anotner monument TO the courage and
skin OF British administrators. Il
must be perfectly plain 10 ANYBODY
who has no desire to deceive himself
that this country never can allow
any other power to occupy our place
in Egypt"-Copyrigh 1913. BIZ the
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.