Victory for the Wafd
With no more known of the result of the General Election in Egypt than that the Wafd, led by the now veteran Nahas Pasha, is assured of a clear majority in the Chamber, detailed comment must necessarily be deferred. It is uncertain whether Nahas will continue to lead the party—he is now 73—and his considered political programme must be awaited, for platform programmes often undergo substantial modification before they become Front Bench programmes. But, generally speaking, the Wafd victory, and the extent of it, are clearly to be welcomed. Nahas Pasha's eyes have usually been turned West rather than East, and he has shown a desire for good relations with Britain. It is a definite advantage that one party should command a majority in Parliament, thus making the unstable and unsatisfactory coalitions that have recently prevailed unnecessary. And despite the internal strains it may create, it is a good thing to have in office a party strong enough to withstand the arbitrary vagaries of the Palace. Egypt holds an important position strategically and as the strongest State in the Arab League. On the whole, the new regime now inaugurated promises well for her, though much will depend on the ability of the new Government to deal effectively with the deplorable social conditions prevailing throughout the country.
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