Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-26
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

It may not be Egyptian darkness"
tinguish. what is going on in the land
of the ePharaohs, but certainly some
things are happening there that the
outside world does not quite compre-
bend.
Egypt has been nominally "independ-
ent" of Great Britain since 1928, yet
the British have maintained there. in
the Egyptian capital, high commits
sioner. backed by an army OF 12,50o
men with full equipment. Egypt has a
king and also q constitution providing
a parliament and giving abundant
safeguard to the masses against Orien-
tai despotism. Now comes his majesty,
King Fuad, with q decree dissolving the
Parliament--S0 per cent Nationalist
and suspending the constitution; he
has decided 10 rule absolutely for at
least three years. And the British
hasten to announce to the world that
they have had nothing to do with the
Kings action.
The constitution, proclaimed by the
King. ave years ago, when he assumed
the title of King. in place of Khedive,
contains this provision. in article so,
topic 8:
Before assuming his constitutional
duties, the King takes before the
assembled chambers the following
oath; 7 do solemply declare before AL
mighty God to observe the constitu-
ton and the laws of the Egyptian peo-
pie, to maintain the national inde-
pendence and integrity OF the coun-
try"
Topic 6, article I55. provides mo
disposition of the present constitution
pended, except temporarily in times of
war or a state of siege, and in q man
ner determined by the law. In any
case, the assembling OF Parliament
under conditions established by the
present constitution cannot be estop-
ped"
Yet the constitution is suspended.
not for a few days or weeks on account
OF war or a state OF siege. but for three
years. and the Parliament Is dissolved.
all by decree Of the King, and In time
OF peace.
ri is pointed out by a diplomat that
there Is q difference between the status
of the United States Constitution and
that OF Egypt, based upon their re-
spective origins. We, the people" of
the United States created and estab-
lished our Constitution, and. therefore,
only I'VE. the people" have the right
to suspend it--not the President nor
Congress, neither of which created It.
But the Egyptian constitution was
granted voluntarily by hereditary king
upon his own initiative as an exercise of
his hereditary power to govern as he
alone thought best; therefore. he who
created IL has power to rescind and stiS-
pend That might seem more plausible
IL 1t were not for the article l55 above
quoted waving all right 10 suspend.
except temporarily during some war
crisis. and even then only as prescribed
by legislation.
The beginning of England's involve
ment In Egypt dates back to 1875. when
the extravagant Khedive, Said, sold 10
Great Britain iT7,000 shares in the
Suex Canal for $4,000, 600. In order to
recoup the Egyptian treasury and sup
ply funds for his further campaigns
and improvements of Egyptian railways,
etc. Great Britain coveted control OF
the canal as the route to India, but
this purchase only gave her q joint
control shared with France, and II
left Egyptian finance still ON the verge
OF pAnkTuptCys Az h4Ap ouuh aUNp1upc0
native rebellion, led by Arab rasha,
which. In 1881. brought British and
French fleets to Alexandria.
Alexandria and Port Said were taken,
and In great battle OF Tell-el-Kehir.
the British utterly defeated the force
of Arab Pasha. captured him and ex-
He'd him To Ceylon.
Almost Immediately there followed q
widespread rebellion In the Sudan. and
a Joint army of Egyptians and British.
under British officers, marched against
the rebels and conquered the Sudan
in the name OF Egypt, yet ever since
then there has been an unsettled claim
Of sovereignty OF the Sudan. disputed
between Egypt and Great Britain,
In 1904 France bargained with Great
Britain. France agreed 10 give the
British free hand IN Egypt In eX-
change for a French free hand In
Morocco, tThe natives were not COM
suited in either easel
-
In all these years, up 10 the World
War, Egypt remained part Of the
Turkish Empire, the EGYPTIAN Khedive
he,ng Suhieck 10 the Turkish Sultan, |
At the nutlf'lk III the great war Ia !
l9la the kAsaale. Ahhas II. plotted with !
VI