Evening star., 1951-11-17
A Sudanese Compromise?

In proposing a Sudanese pebiscite to the
United Nations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mo-
hammed Salah el Din has declared himself
more than sure that Britain will reject the idea
That may we'll be the case but still the possi-
bty exists that the U. N. may be able to work
out compromise plan reconciling CairoS and
London'S views on the issue.
Actually, Mr. el Din's proposal seems to back
track considerably from the position taken by
the Egyptians some weeks ago when they uni
lateraly abrogated their 1899 Sudanese agree
ment with Britain, along with their 1896 treaty
on the Suez Canal. At that time, in repudating
the agreement-which established the Sudan as
a condominum to be ruled jointly by Cairo and
London-they proposed that within two years
the region should become Self-governing except
for defense, finance and foreign policy, an ex-
ception that would have the effect of giving
them control.
But now Mr.. el Din has announced that
Egypt is prepared, if Britain will do the same to
withdraw its officials and armed forces from the
Sudan to enable the people there to hold a vote
of self-determination under the auspices of the
U. N. If this means that the Cairo government
is willing to let the Sudanese have the kind of
autonomy that would leave them free to make
their own decisions in the field of defense
finance and foreign policy, then Mr. ell Din has
iAelie SAOu4iU loA 1CClIllS lIldIl lildt
London will have nothing to do with his pro-
posal. On the contrary, London's response con-
ceivably may be favorable enough for COM
promise.
At any rate, as Foreign Secretary Eden has
just told the House of Commons, the British are
following a policy under which self-governing
constitution may be completed and in operation
in the Sudan by the end of 1952-a constitution
permitting the Sudanese people to decide freely
for themselves whether they wish to be %
wholly independent GU limited in their SOW
ereignty in association with Egypt, or 90 closely
allied with Britain, perhaps as members of the
Commonwealth of Nations What the London
government hopes for, of course is that if they
are given the liberty of choice, they will choose
the third course
This British position does not seem to be
extremely far removed from the Egyptian pro-
posal. Although the views of both countries
need to be spelled out in much greater detail,
they appear to be agreed at least on the prn
cipe of self elf-determination for the Sudan. Ac-
cordingly assuming that the two parties are
genuinely prepared for just settlement Of the
issue, it ought to be possible, through the U. N,
to work out mutually acceptable plan to make
the SudaneSe their own maSterS-free to decide
whether they wish to be fully independent or
allied with London or Cairo-in the years i'm
medately ahead.
The assumption involved here, however, is
very big. At the moment with Egypt and Britain
in bitter conflict, the outlook is less than
promising for a satisfactory agreement. AS far
as Cairo is concerned, moreover, it probably sus-
pects-not without good reason-that majority
of the SudaneSe might vote for association with
the British. Nevertheless, despite all doubts and
difficulties, the U. N. should make special effort
to see whether compromise is possible.