Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-02
BRITAIN GIVES
EGYPT WHAT
IRELAND WON
Removal of PrOtectOrate Over
PharaOh's Land Marks
an Epoch.
INDIA NEXT IN ORDER
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
RY FREDERIC WILLIAM WIFE.

and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON, March .. - Not
essentially to grant independence to
Egypt, but to buttress the quaking walls
of the British Empire is regarded in
Washington as the real motive. OF the
termination of the British protectorate
over the land of the Pharaoh. Viewed
in that light American and Foreign
diplomats pronounce the action JUST
taken by the Lloyd George government
as historic and far reaching in character.
What Ireland has won, Egypt has now
achieved and India is not likely much
longer to be denied That, in Washing
toms opinion is what Great Britain's d.
cision means. 1t is, in other words, less
a gesture Of generosity than shrewd
measure of self preservation.
Virtually all of the burning questions
Of European and Asiatic politics are
wrapped up with the Egyptian situation
In the Near East the spectre Of more
war between Greece and Turkey, with
its incalculable possibilities Of embroil-
ing greater powers, again territieS the
chanceIIories Of Europe. The menace is
a direct outgrowth Of what Mohammedan
India considers the '-peridy" Of David
LLOYD George That dominating portion
of India which is Islamic and acknOwl-
edges the spiritual sovereignty of the
Caliphate or Turkish Empire, has net
forgiven, and viii not forgive the Brit
fsh prime minister for agreeing IL the
treaty Of Sevres. after the World War,
TO assign ThraCe TO Greece. Indians de-
clare they possess a solemn promise IRON
the British government that such home
lands Of Turkey would not be severed
from the Islamic realm. Srelt Britain
is not in position to undo the treaty Of
Sevres and keep her promise 20 her hun
dreds of millions of Mohamne,la1 sub
jects in India. Her inability 10 do so,
as Mr.. Sastri, India's representative at
the Washington conference, publicly said
on repeated occasions, IS ne primary
reason for the growing spirit Of revolt
against British domination in India.
1LAHOADIEDANs MUST
BE APPRAISED.
Thus some authorities feel that the
British government, with its invincible
genius for compromise seeks to appease
the MahOmmedan universe with Egyptian
independence" The people of Egypt,
ike the Islamic population OF India, are
loyal to the Caliphate. even though
Egyptian soldiers fought under allied
banners in the World War, after the
Turks assailed the British on the Suez
Canal
Whether the termination Of the Brit
ish pr0tectOrate over Egypt originally
intended as a war measure, and SO mott
fed to the United States Government in
1914 will appease either the Egyptians
or their Indian coreligiOnists, remains to
lie seen. Near Easetrn authorities In
~
day were inclined TO be skeptical. They
declare the declaration made by Lloyd
George in the House Of Commons on
Tuesday beStows anything but ''sov-
ereignty" or independence" upon Egypt
By reserving TO British discretion" the
defense Of the Suez Canal; the protec-
ticn Of Egypt against all foreign aggres-
sion or Interference. direct or indirect,
and the protection Of Egypt's foreign IN
terests and foreign minorities Near East
ern diplomats say the British retain ar
exceedingly firm grip on Egypt. TIE
scheme at the time It was proposed Cy
the Miner commission and rejected by
the British Cabinet was Hkened to the
Plat amendment whereby the United
States retains certain Jurisdiction over
the foreign and defense affairs Of Cuba
The relations between the United States
and Cuba, Of course, are not approx
imately either as delicate OF as extern
sive as those which prevail between the
British Empire and Egypt.
VALUE OF
sUEZ CANAL
British authorities here do not conceal
the necessity Of g strong British hand
over Egypt's foreign relations ar par
ticularIy over the Suez Canal That
celebrated waterway, bequeathed to Queen
Victoria by her adoring Disraei as the
most priceless achievement Of his pre-
miership, is as vital to the integrity OF
the British empire as the Panama Canal
IS vital to the national security Of the
United Stptes. Cut the Suez and you
sever Brirain's imperial jugular vein.
Place It unrestrictedly at the disposal
OF a vengeful Egypt ready perhaps some
day TO ally itself with an aggrieved
Turkey and a sullen India and Britain
would take the first step, as many Of her
sons think IN the direction Of imperial
suicide.
That is why David Lloyd George has
determined to watch his step" on the
Nile. The thorn of Ireland having been
removed from the British side, as the
willy Welshman OF Downing street thinks
Egypt for itself and for the lmmeasur-
able possibilities dormant India Is next
10 be pacifed. If the Egyptians accept
the pipe Of peace London has offered
Cairo, there can be little doubt India
next will be asked TO smoke from .the
same briar-the Englishman's favOrite
instrument The spirit of self determin-
alton Is abroad through George VS. globe
girdling domains. Statesmen Of vision
IN London know It cannot long be sup
pressed. That is why the Prince Of
wales celebrated the wedding Of his sis
ter Princess Mary, in far-Off Bengal In
stead OF pompflled Westminster Abbey.
Copyright, 1922, by Public Ledger Com