The New Cabinet in Egypt Whether the Egyptian crisis is
cooling down or boiling up is still uncertain. Nahas Pasha having been dismissed because he would not agree to the form of arbitration proposed by the King on the differences between Palace and Cabinet, Mahmoud Pasha has succeeded, and formed a Ministry which obviously could not face a vote in the Chamber. Parliament has therefore been prorogued (or is considered so, though uproar prevented the President from actually pronouncing the necessary formula), and new elections are likely to be held. No considerable disorders have taken place, and the new Prime Minister has announced a reasonable, if vague, pro- gramme. The Senate, however, has declared, with three dissentient votes, against the new Cabinet, and its Wafdist members, together with Dr. Ahmed Maher, the President of the Chamber, have been expelled from the Wafdist Party. On top of that comes news of the formation of a new party of Wafdist dissidents, which does not propose, however, to support the new Government. There is nothing in any way anti-British in these developments, but the existence in Egypt of a Government making no pretence to a majority in the Chamber is obviously unfortunate. New elections can hardly be avoided, but they will not take place till after King Farouk's approaching wedding. * * * *
Previous page
