A LETTER F R OM CAIRO. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,-7-Since the beginning of the year the tranquillity of Egypt has twice been ruffled by episodes of the kind that are graphically described as " political crises," the recurrence of which seems to have become periodic. But the striking difference is that, whereas from 1919 onwards the word " crisis " inevitably connoted rioting, battle, and possible bloodshed in the streets of Cairo, nowadays, as Sterne said of France, we order this matter better and express our disagree- ments politely in diplomatic notes. This time the battleships did not reach Alexandria, much to the regret of the ladies of that cosmopolitan page !
The impoitant point for readers at home to grasp is that the episode of the ASsemblies Bill has not engendered any animosity between us and the Egyptian nation. Even during the critical days Cairo was absohitely quiet ; Englishmen met their Egyptian friends and diseussed the situation in the most amicable terms. Many reasonable Egyptians appreciated
the firm attitude and honest intentions of Great Britain, which augurs well for a better understanding of our respective points of view in the future. The position to-day is that the • Wafd, including, as it does, the Prime Minister and a majority in both Cabinet and Chamber, holds the field : they would be well advised to allow negotiations with England to lie dormant until they have proved their capacity as rulers by enforcing some much-needed reforms in the administration of their own country.
The earliest of Cairo's distinguished guests were the King and Queen of Afghanistan, who paid a State visit to King Fuad in December. As one Moslem sovereign visiting another King Amanullah caused a little surprise by appearing in a grey top-hat, which he also wore while going to the mosques and El Azhar University. He was followed in February by the Crown Prince of Italy, whose visit, however, was of a more informal nature. In March, Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles came to stay with Lord and Lady Lloyd at the Residency. H.R.H. had a busy time : as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Soots she honoured them at the Citadel for lunch and for regimental sports; she inspected a great rally of Girl Guides, did the bazaars, Pyramids and other sights ; and spent ten days at Luxor and Aswan, but was deterred by a heat-wave from journeying to Khartum. King Fuad gave a dinner and soirée in her honour at Abdin Palace, followed two days later by a ball at the Residency given by Lord and Lady Lloyd, both being largely attended by the British community. Nor must we forget the splendid dance given by Colonel Rome and the officers of the Cavalry Brigade at the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, one of the most successful military functions Cairo has ever. seen.
If the archaeologists have not damled us this season, the Museum has been greatly enriched by further wonderful treasures from the tomb of Tut-ankh-Amen, of which the statuettes of the tutelary goddesses guarding the Canopic chest and the four miniature gold coffins stand out as gems of fine workmanship. At Saqqara King Zoser has hitherto proved elusive, but the search tor his tomb revealed a series of rooms decorated with beautiful faience tiles arranged in bands of blue and white to imitate the reed matting of primitive Egyptian houses.
Nor has our musical culture been neglected. True, the season of Italian Opera was rather disappointing, though they made a valiant effort to give Tristan and Isolde—in Italian—
the orchestra at least deserving a bouquet. But our real musical " uplift " came in the concerts given by Hubermann, Cortot, and Rubinstein : the audiences were enthusiastic and paid the artists the compliment of listening in absolute silence, which is really a considerable effort for the mixed and garrulous population of a large Near Eastern city like Cairo,—
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