EGYPT PLUNGES ON
THE Egyptian Government is living uncomfortably from hand to mouth. It deliberately created the impression that abrogation of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty would lead to the withdrawal of the British garrison and to effective Egyptian sovereignty in the Sudan. After two months of excitement neither of these goals is appreciably nearer, and the various measures against Britain which have been put into effect or which are under discussion can do nothing to bring them nearer. Breaking off diplomatic relations, or even the withdrawal of an Ambassador, is a gesture of disapproval, but nothing more. It may even, as the United Nations found in its dealings with Spain, cause more discomfort to the attackers than to the attacked. Any interruption of normal commercial relations between 'the two countries is equally a double-edged weapon, the immediate effect of which in Egypt would be to swell the already dangerous crowd of unemployed in the main towns. But these practical considerations are not of a sort to weigh much with the present Egyptian Governmtlin, which is the prisoner of its own extravagances. All the same it is unfortunate that the British Army authorities should have provided the Egyptian public with what must seem to be cast-iron proof of British atrociousness. There was obviously everything to be said for building a new road between the water-filtering plant and the tKoops' quarters, thus cutting out the risk of incidents in Suez. But was it really essential to destroy almost an entire village in the process ? Was not a longer detour possible? The Army authorities maintain that there was no alternative. But the suspicion remains that, with a little ingenuity, and the whole desert at their disposal, a happier solution might have been found. Egyptian houses are flimsy, easily knocked down and easily rebuilt ; compensation is to be paid. All this is true ; but it is also true that the repercussions of the affair are political rather than military. It does not help to narrow the gulf.
