15 NOVEMBER 1935, Page 2

Unrest in Egypt The studiously friendly references to Egypt in

Sir Samuel Hoare's Guildhall speech on Saturday have had precisely the opposite effect to what was hoped for. The Foreign Secretary's statement that the adop- tion neither of the constitution of 1923 nor of that of 1930 was possible, because the former was unworkable and the latter unacceptable to the Nationalist Wafd, has roused the Wafd to anger, since its mind is set on the 1923 constitution. Egyptian Independence Day falling on Wednesday, the opportunity was seized for violent Nationalist and anti-British demonstrations in Cairo and other centres, in the course of which many people were injured and the British Legation was stoned. The Abyssinian war has naturally had a disturbing effect, and though responsibility for the defence of Egypt is expressly reserved to Great Britain by the declaration of 1922, which gave the country independence, the extremists affect to believe that the strengthening of the British garrison for defence purposes means an extension of the British hold over Egypt. Attempts to displace the Prime Minister, Nessim .Pasha, who is, of course, governing without te Parliament, may or may not succeed, but no Wafd nominee who might take his place has any proSpect of faring better. This may not be the precise moment for opening negotiations- between Great Britain and Egypt, but no one can believe.

that the four reserved points of 1922 can remain reserved, for ever. A hostile Egypt imperils, not secures, British, communications. At the same time mob ebullience is endemic in Egypt and this week's demonstrations, need, not be taken tragically.