In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Austen Cham-
berlain made a long statement on foreign policy. He did not say very much that was new, though the form of what he said was excellent. He declared that the Government's information all went to confirm the belief that the Zinovieff letter was genuine. As regards Egypt, he was able to answer nearly all Mr. Trevelyan's criticisms by calling to his aid the statements of Mr. MacDonald. He frankly admitted that the reference to an unlimited amount of fresh irrigation in the Sudan had better not have been included in the demands made in the ultimatum to. Egypt after the murder of the Sirdar. He offered the comment that people who are driven to act in a hurry do not always use language with perfect wisdom. The fact was, however, that as there was plenty of water for everybody there was no possibility of a grievance in Egypt. To show their good faith the Government would, be ready to refer the whole question of the waters of the Nile to an Anglo-Egyptian Commission, to be presided over by a citizen of some neutral country. This is an excellent proposal. If we are not mistaken, there has been already an inquiry into the distribution of the water over which an American engineer presided.
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