Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04

was again exiled-and again released
from exile, only to persist in his fight.
Throughout the last year, the agita-
ton has grown more bitter. Not only
do the fellahin back the Zaghlul I'M
rest. in spite of the greater material
prosperity and freedom they have en-
joyed under British protection from
the tyranny of the upper classes, but
the intelligentsia and the lords who
had ruled the masses with whips and
brutality and eXtortion now find that
the British prevent their extortions
and limit their power, so both eX-
tremes are in revolt.
X X
For centuries, Egypt had been under
the suZerainty of Turkey, but since
1857 Great Britain has assumed con-
troll. even though allowing Egypt to
continue to pay tribute to. Turkey
Forty years ago. when Great Britain
entered Egypt. the population was
about 100000; today it exceeds
$4,000. 000-all inhabiting an area less
than one-fourth that of the State Of
New York. The Egyptian Delta of
the Nile is the most densely populated
region in the world, with an average
OF 1,1OO people per square mile. How
the people subsist is a very grave
problem, and what is at the founda-
ton of today's unrest is the fear Of
the half-starved natives that if Great
Britain persists in exploiting the
Sudan it will create unbearable com.
petition with Egypt. The Sudanese
are of different race from the Egyp-
tians, speak different language, and
have their own right to prosperity
and peace, and if they should pass
into the control of the Egyptians
their progress would be mercilesslv
retarded, according to British claims.
However, that economic rivalry is the
basis Of the trouble. The agitators. the
former native rulers of Egypt, now
attribute every hardship of the Egyp.
tan fellahin to the Vaccinations Of
these British interests in Sudan.
When the Nile fails to rise sufficient
ly to irrigate' the Egyptian fields, it is
alleged to be because the British in
Sudan have diverted it's waters for
their own vast irrigation enterprises.
When a bumper crop of cotton
throughout the world depresses prices.
1t is all due to British speculation.
just as all epidemics are attributed to
the "senseless" British sanitation
measures. But back of this the Ameri-
cans are to blame, for Wilson's IA
points" gave them the pledge that
every race might have self-determina-
tlon as to it's own government, and
AFTER the World War was won we
Ialied to protect Egypt in that right.
IL poor unrest that can't be traced
10 the Americans as the primary
cause!
When Egyptian unrest first de.
yeiopeo' Following the World War, the
BRUSH government sent Gen. Allenby,
lne conqueror of Palestine, to succeed
Aoro Cfomer, who had been the ruler
Tor many years, and who was most
eminently successful in preserving the
good will of the natives, except that
OF the ruling class, whose abuses OF
the peasants he had curbed. Cen. AL.
lenoy seems to have lacked concilia-
tory tact and assumed q dictatorial at.
Iltude toward all opposition-which
only increased the revolt. Then fbe
British government sent a commits.
sion, under Lord Minor, which in.
'estlgated conditions and recommend.
ed autonomy, but Zaghlul refused
everything short of independence. A
compromise was reached under which
Independence would have been grant
I'd, with treaty giving Britain tn
light OF military occupation (disguised
Is ponclng the canaD. which was
agreeable to Zaghlul, but was not raft.
led by the British government.
Mr.. J. A. Spender. member of the
minor Commission, writes in the
Quarterly Review:
The solution of the peculiar rela.
ionship in which Great Britain ana
Egypt stand to each other is that of
free partnership, in which Egypt
voluntarily asks our assistance ana
pledges hers. believe that this IL
possible attainment without sacriilce
# independence or self.respect on
either side. There is. In spits OF ali
hat has happened, great fund OF
,ood Will among Egyptians toward
OF the right deposition.
md this feeling is highly rscirrocs.e ed
~ many Englishnlsn who have spent
heir lives in the ccun.ry. WIN are
!ttached TO the people ani who win
ind real satisfaction i'm ;.nipirC IL
Q realize its status as a sovereign
tate"
tcopyriShs. 1897. hy Paul v. Couins.l