Great Britain and Egypt The ground is gradually being prepailt1
for serious discussions between -Great Britain and Egypt. The British GoVernment; to judge from Cairo reports, prefers to raise the more difficult questions first. What they are is -clear enough. The. 1930 treaty-broke down on the question of the status of the Sudan. That problem has still to be resolved, and in addition the reduction of the British force in Egypt to the figure mentioned in 1930 is obviously impracticable in existing circum- stances—nor can it be supposed that any Egyptian would seriously desire it. But questions must be raised regarding procedure .as well as regarding the order of discussion. Mr. Henderson in 1930 :took the view as Foreign Secretary. that . any- .agreement signed with Egypt must. be ratified by a. constitutionally elected Parliament... That view still prevails.. Egypt Ivill.shortly elect . a Parliament under the revived constitution of 1923, and it remains to be seen whether the United Front will hold together at any rate till the time for ratification of an agreement comes, or failing that whether a Wafd majority can claim to have been fairly and regularly elected, and qualified, therefore, to sign as a Government constitutionally in office. The situation is considerably complicated by the resignation of the Prime Minister, Nessim Pasha,- and.the refusal of Nahas Pasha,• the Wafd leader, to form a Government. If the task falls to the Liberal leader, Mohammed Pa.slia. Mahmud, no more than an initiation of negotiations will be possible,- for a Mahmud Cabinet would certainly be displaced after the elections. * * *
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