Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-06
EGYPTIANS PUZZLED
OVER INDEPENDENCE
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Dali
News Foreign Service.)


BY JUNlUS Il. WOOD
! Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Daily
| News Foreign Service.)
CAIRO. Egypt.-Much has been
written about Egypt's indie.
pendence and numerous powers,
including the United States. have
recognized Egypt as independent.
Yet nobody in Egypt can define that
independence. Probably never be-
fore in history has such an anoma-
lous nation existed.
Leaders Of the Nationalist party
/ Who sway seVen-eighths Of the hum
| BILE population of the country, de-
clare bitterly that Great Britain
never intends to grant Egypt real in.
| dependence. The impartial observer
finds not the slightest reason to
question the sincerity of Britain's
OFFER, which, however, includes four
reservations that must be settled by
negotiations months hence before
the quality Of the independence can
be judged. Egypt today is not indie
or New Zealand, though they are not
recognized so by foreign powers.
Martial Law Supreme
Egypt has a king, selected by the
British authorities to the satisfac-
tlon OF the Egyptian people, a cab
met which does not receive such
unanimous approval, district and 10.
cal ofaolals. courts which function
with regularity in a limited field
and a nominal legislative body Sc.
lected ten years ago and still draw.
ing salaries though prorogued by
suitanic rescript under martial law
eight years ago. 1t has not held a.
session since. A committee of thir-
ty is drafting a tentative new con-
stltution. 1t should be completed
by autumn. The truce in the riots
asSSiasslnatlons and violence probably
VIII! continue until then. Next will!
come the election and appointment
OF parliament and after all this
the discussion with Britain of the
terms Of independence.
In the meantime the supreme DOW.
er IN the country, over king, cab.
met, large or petty officials, courts
or the treaty rights Of foreign DOW.
ers with past or present Egypt. is
martial law enforced by the British
military authorities. A few DAYS
ago when this was questioned in the
British consular court, a British as.
slstant adjutant general argued that
| Egypt continued technically a part
OF turkeys dominion, putting anoth-
er cloud in the independence sky.
Ihe brilliant officer, Field Marshal
Allenby, who won the Near East
Tor the allies, Is the British high
commissioner. Even those Egyp-
tlans most suspicious of Downing
street do not doubt Lord Allenby's
klndllness, fairness or sympathy
with Egypt's aspirations. His ner.
Sonal influence more than anything
else obtained for Egypt the offer of
| independence which now is before
| her. Also it must be remembered
that Lord Allenby is a military man
| ana mat general is trained to com.
mand.
How Law Operates
Martial law in Egypt is beneficent
as well as severe. Many persons
consider that a country under mar.
llal law, especially administered by
another power, is not in position to
claim independence. Some OF the
actions taken under martial law:
Prevent rent profiteering by fix.
ing maximum rate Of rent,
| Prohibit meetings to discuss the
return Of Saad zaghloul Pasha and
his fellow exiles or to organize com.
mercial boycotts.
| ports Of petitions or requests made
to the king or cabinet or sent to
the newspapers asking for the re.
| turn of the exiles.
Suspend newspapers which in the
Judgment of the authorities publish
falsehoods or whose policy Is un.
favorable, a right which the Egyp.
tian government has always had un.
der the penal code.
Deport individuals without trial
IT their presence is considered un.
desirable in the country.
Prohibit certain individuals from
| discussing public affairs and intern
others within restricted areas of
| their homes.
Sequester not only the funds of
| the wafd the managing committee
| of the nationalist party, but also
the private funds of it's members
and even prohibit them from draw
! ing pay Of any kind.
Remove persons from the juris.
diction Of civil courts for trial in
military courts for civil or political
offenses and enforce penal sen
! fences.
Rights of Other Powers
Martial law supersedes, thoush
out Of courtesy it recognizes, the
capitulations by which FOREIGNERS
had certain rights in Egypt, includ
ing eXtraterritoriality, through trea,
ties between their governments and
Egypt. Whether these rights will
be restored is involved in one OF
the reservations which Great Brit
ain has made to Egypts indepen
dence. Britain proposes to protect
the rights of foreigners. France
and Italy have already indicated
their objection. The United States
is one Of the eleven other countries
having such treaties.
Only the laws of nature are SUI
perior to martial law. There are
many restrictions which it could
make, but refrains from making
but there is no authority in Egypt
which can overrule any of the regu
lations it does make. It's censor
ship Of the press is not rigid, but
is potent. If an editor doubts the
advisability of an article, he con
suits the press bureau and usually