Changes in Egypt
For better or worse—and it is a little of each—the negotiations over the revision of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 are to be carried on by new men on either side. Sir Ronald Campbell succeeds Lord Killearn as British Ambassador at Cairo, and Nokrashy Pasha's administration has been succeeded by one formed, on a rather pre-
carious basis, by Ismail Sidky Pasha, an able but elderly politician whose relations to this country have been consistently friendly, Nokrashy's fall was due, like the fall of so many Egyptian Prime Ministers, to the hostility of the Wafd, which declined to form part of an all-party delegation such as successfully negotiated the agree- ment with Britain in 1936. Meanwhile, the death of Hassanein Pasha, King Farouk's chef de cabinet, in a motor accident on Tuesday, is nothing less than a major disaster. Cultured, well-informed, wise and moderate politically, Hassanein exercised over the young king an influence that was wholly salutary. His death at this juncture
• is a grievous blow. Even so there is no reason why, in spite of the regrettable but characteristic effervescence of Cairo students, the negotiations should not open with good prospects. A friendly and lasting settlement is essential to both countries and there should be no insuperable obstacles to it. There is no case for the retention of •any substantial British forces in Egypt, particularly in the neigh- bourhood of Cairo, and a reconciliation of opposing views here should be easy. The Sudan will be less easy, for that country is pursuing its own road successfully towards ultimate self-government. But it should be possible to give Egypt assurances that will set at rest her anxieties about Nile water, and to maintain such association between Cairo and Khartum as will satisfy her amour pro pre. Settlement of our financial debt to Egypt is bound up with the American loan uncertainties.
