Evening star., 1924-02-24
ENGLAND REGRETS
ATTACK ON CARTER
Anglo-Egyptian Relations Inhamed
When Settlement of Issues
Seems Vital.
BY Cable 10 The Star and New York Tribune
Copyright 1924

BY Cable 10 The Star and New York Tribune
Copyright, 1924
LONDON. February 23-The clash
between Howard Carter and the
Egyptian government with regard to
control of the tomb of Tut-anhk-
Amen Is regretted in official circles
here as tending to infiame Anglo
Egyptian relations just at a moment
when the settlement Of outstanding
questions between the two countries
seems most important. in view of the
recent redistribution Of the British
fleet and the concentration Of its main
strength in Mediterranean waters.
While there is no disposition here,
either in official or unofficial quarters
to put the blame for the incident on
the administration at Cairo and alb
soIve Garter completely, at the same
time it is felt the new nationalist
government Of Egypt has taken an
attitude which is inspired at least as
much by political as by personal mo-
tives.
Sentiment AntI-British.
II is feared the controversy which
has arisen over the tomb already
transcends archaeological and social
considerations. and the incident is
being exploited throughout Egypt to
the detriment Of British interests
there. The Egyptian government is
charged with having succumbed to
the easy temptation Of arousing the
national and religious prejudices
among the natives on the subject of
scientific investigations. and Is con-
the valley of kings at Luxor as an
act of sacrilege as well as an insult
to Egyptian patriotism.
This tendency is deplored. particu-
larly in view of certain negotiations
which must he taken up at an early
date. These have to do with three
principal subjects left unsettled wheu
the British protectorate was abro-
gated and Egyptian independence es-
tablished Namely. the status OF the
protect the canal zone: the future Of
! the Sudan and control of Egyptian
finances. OF these by far the most
| important is the question of pro-
tecting the Suez canal. Since the ne
gotiations have lapsed change Of
government has occurred both in
+, England and In Cairo. The labor
party has succeeded the conservatives
| at home. while at the same time the
administration in Egypt. which was
f1uence, has been thrown into the dis
card in favor of a strongly national
ist1c government.
| Labor to BE Firm.
IT is certain that the labor govern
ment will be no less determined than
were it's conservative predecessors on
insisting that a sufficient garrison
must remain in Egypt to protect the
canal against the danger of a sur
prise attack. Since the German fleet
was sunk in the waters of Sea pa
Flow the British naval policy has
reverted to its previous strategy with
/ nf a a n IN ipa a
tween the dominions and. other i'm
pcrial outposts as dominating
principle.
Consistent with this policy was the
scheme for construction of a naval
base in Singapore. which idea. howl
ever. the new British government is
likely to scrap, but that would make
undisputed mastery or the SueZ
canal all the more important. as well
as concentration of large battle
force in the Mediterranean for the
purpose of completing the lines of
Communication.
This new distribution of the Brit
ish fleet raises the question OF Brit
powers as we'll as with Egypt. Italy
especially, which is in more or less
open alliance with Spain. is making
a bid for mastery of the Mediter-
ranean. but is plainly disturbed by
the reappearance of strong British
fleet in these waters.
However, any strain Of Anglo
italian relations that might arise
from this situation probably will be
ironed out by the new British gov
ernment. The labor cabinet is talk
! ing up the question Of ceding Afri-
can territory to Italy, matter
! which was sluired over by the Bald
win administration. This POSSIBLY
was the cession Of British territory
TO which Ponsonby referred In the
| house Of commons last week. giving
rise to unfounded rumors OF ces-
| sions to the United States as con-
templated settlement Of war debts.