Waters of the Nile '
Whoever rules in Cairo or Khartoum the distribution of the waters of the Nile is the one question about which they cannot afford to disagree. The news that the Governments of Egypt and the Sudan have been able to reach an accord about future development plans for the Nile water is a cheering sign for the future. It shows that in the middle of all the clamour about constitutions and national rights the practical problems confronting the two countries have not been forgotten, and it shows that the present Egyptian Govern. ment is not above negotiating with a neighbour Government which was a year ago being denounced as usurping and colonial." The proposals outlined in the Egypto-Sudanese agreement are based on the plans prepared a generation ago by Sir Murdoch MacDonald. When completed, this plan was to include dams on the main Nile north of Khartoum at Merowe, dams at the outlets of the White and Blue Niles from Lakes Victoria and Tana and a cut through the southern swamps (Sudd) in addition to the existing Sudanese dams at Sennar and Merowe. If all the works were completed there should be enough water available to irrigate all the land in Egypt and the Sudan which agriculturalists have had their eye on for development. The present agreement does not complete the MacDonald scheme, but it does carry it a useful stage further. The next hurdle to be overcome will be to find the necessary capital for these undertakings, which are almost certainly beyond the resources of either country at this moment.
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