Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Great Britain is threatened with two
wars at once-with Soviet Russia be-
cause. of the exposure of the Soviet
activities in England antagonistic to
the British government, which has led
to a severance of diplomatic relations,
and war with Egypt because of the
leadership of Zaghlul Pasha of the
Nationalist party, in demanding abso-
lutte independence from Great Britain.
The situation in Egypt is more crit
ical than it has been at any time since
Great Britain, in 1922, announced that
it would recognize Egyptian SOW.
ereignty, but attached string to the
recognition reserving the right to
maintain an army of several thousand
soldiers ostensibly for the protection
of the Suez Canal, which belongs to
Great Britain, but also. in fact, to in
sure order throughout Egypt. There
was good reason to question the power
of King Fuad's government to rule
the factions in peace, for the status
quo left at the end of the World War
had aroused bitter recruitment among
the Nationalist, led by the able Zagh-
lul Pasha, sometime prime minister
and sometime president of the Cham
Der.
Great Britain is as vitality interested
in protecting the Suez Canal as is the
United States in guarding the Panama
Canal. Not only is the Suez the prop
erty of Great Britain, but it is her
vital highway to Mesopotamia and
India. Egypt being the territory in
which the canal is located, the tran
quillity of Egypt is essential to the
ne4 tn nI6
Britain owns the vast territory of the
Sudan. adjoining Egypt at the south
and covering the source of the River
Nile.
The Egyptian Nationalist want not
only complete independence for their
country, free from British control, but
they demand the annexation of the
Sudan-which the British refuse to
consider under any conditions.
The Sudan irrigation drawing water
from the Nile is alleged to injure the
water supply for lower Egypt. The
development of cotton growing
throughout the Sudan will set up
economic rivalry which will injure the
prosperity of Egypt, for the Sudan
can grow the long-staple cotton as
readily as can Egypt.
Besides, Zaghlul Pasha and his
many followers allege breach of faith
on the part of the British, who, they
claim, promised independence as a
reward for Egyptian aid in the World
War, and then violated their pledge
after the armistice.
King Fuad reigns, but his prime
minister and cabinet rule. The King
u IQyrsf Sct1
rather than with the Nationalist, who
are said to be tinged with radicalism.
Yet it is difficult not to recognize in
Zaghluls persistent activities a genu-
inc patriotism for his own country's
liberty from foreign domination. The
British Army Of 10000 is termed by
the Nationalist as an 'army of &C.
cupation" and it rankles.
Hoping to overcome Zaghlul's domi-
nation in the Chamber, King Fuad
dissolved Parliament and called for
new election, which, within the last
few weeks, has returned Nationalist
to 85 per cent of the parliamentary
seats, and zaghlul has been promptly
reelected President of the Chamber.
y X X X
In 1922, when Egyptian independ-
ence was proclaimed by Great Britain,
it was on condition that the British
Army should remain in Cairo. and
that British rights in the Sudan should
be recognized by Egypt. Zaghlul,
then prime minister, refused to con-
cede either. stipulation. He made a
journey to Paris to contend before the !
peace conference. and then proceeded |
to London to confer with Prime Min |
lster Ramsay MacDonald--all in vain. /,
Then he returned to Egypt and began
so violent an agitation that the British |
and exiled him from his own |
independent" country. His followers |
revolted and announced that they |
would take British life each day so |
long as Zaghlul was held in exile
and they came near doing it. A |
change of administration in Great |
Britain brought ZaghluPs release, but !
he returned only to renew his patriotic |
agitation. He refused to return to |
the premiership while the British held
but he became president Of
he Chamber equivalent to our
speaker OF the Housed where he waged
to the R0Iicies OF ABLY |
r'asha. head Of the cabinet. until he