1919-06-12 — Page 7

BOSTOCK'S

ROYAL ITALIAN

CIRCUS

(Established Rome 1863)

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THUESDAY,

બર ૨

BRITISH RULE IN EGYPT. A FOREIGNER'S JUDGMENT.

ENDENIABLE SUCCESS."

Judge Erik Sjöborg, the writer of the ishing article, was the Swedish dele gated Hidge on the Mixed Tribunals af Egypt from 1913 to 108. Howas held in high esteem by his rolleagues, and was elevzel presiding Judge of one of the Courts, that of Mansurah.

The Mixed Tribunals in Egypt Lo The same Circus exhibited for TWO consecutive years at Hengler's which I had the honour to be attached for five years, are, as is well known Circus, London, and appeared on

entirely independent of the Egyptian TWO occasions before THEIR Government and of the British oficials MAJESTIES KING. GEORGE V.in Egypt. These Courts constitute, as it QUEEN MARY and the ROYAL were a State within the State. Conse quently, the position of their members is such as to enable them to judge quite Family at Buckingham Palace.

impartially of the conditions of the coun- try and of the manner in which it is being administered.

Grand Opening Night

Tuesday, June 17th, 1919.

KOWLOON · ground

people Egypt, the most cosmopolitan of incds, is inhabited by people of all races And religion. The babits and customs of all these different peoples are equally. respected by the administration; they all *The enjoy complete religious liberty world war it is true has nesitated curtain restrictions of this publicliberty,- but they have not exceeded what tha special circumstances required.

THE CAPITULATIONS.

This undeniable success of the British administration in Egypt is all the mure

None of remarkable because the conditions under which the work had to be done were in many respects unfavourable. the Powers had recognised that the o

naturally somewhat paralys cupation vested in England any formal rights over Egypt. This circumstance had ing effect on the work to be necom- plished. Grent dificulties were also net with owing to the Capitulations. B these Treaties the judicial power over all foreigners dwelling in the land is ri moved from the native Courts and vested for one category of cases in the Mixed Tribunala, and for another in the foreign Consulates.

There can be no doubt, in my opinion thas the British administration of Egypt has been a blessing to the country and the people. And yet the period dating which that administration has been car

This division of the judicial authority Leas ried on has not been a long one. than 10 years have elapsed since the has given rise to many inconveniences. rances to legislation, ng new laws are next Post Office events of 1859 led to the occupation of The Capitulations are, moreover, hind In order Egypt by England. The progress made

not binding on foreigners. For the first time in Hongkong. by the country under the recupation, both that they should become so it was neces materially and in moral culture, is great indeed The principal merit is undoubt, up to 1911, to obtain the consent 200 Performing Aulmals 200dly due to Lord Cromer, who from 1983 diplomatically of each of the Capitula to 1907 in a masterly way, represented tion Powers. A law might be ever so necessary or beneficent, but if one of the England in Egy

Powers concerned refused its consent it 30 Star Artists 30.

could not be enforced. Since 1911 this consent is obtainable through the Mixed facilitate which greatly NOT ONE ACT

Tribunals, matters.

NOT ONE ANIMAL

At the time of the occupation the economic situation is Egypt was, no one will deny it, very bad. All previous at tempts to bring order into her finances had failed; State bankruptey seemed in- NOT ONE ARTIST evitable. The administration was given over to disorder and corruption, the Ever before seen in Hongkong.system of irrigation and canalization had fallen into neglect, and a great portion Record success attained in Europe, of the population was at times threatened with famine. Education was primitive, sanitation almost totally neglected. Africa, America, Australia and

Fermally the cecupation occasioned ne alteration in the official position of Great the Extreme-Orient.

Britain's representative. He remained, AVERITABLECITY OF CANVAS as before, British Consul-General in Egypt. But in point of fact his influence on the administration of the country was HUGE WATERPROOF TENTS

paramount. In all the Egyptian Ad- ninistrative Departments Englishmen ELECTRIC LIGHTS

were placed as 'advisers to the Ministers. Provincial Governors were provided with English counsellors. English officials were everywhere put in charge of the or ganization and the direction of public works. irrigation. communications, local

al

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THE WORK OF REFORM.

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"

As an offset to these inconveniunees one must not irget that the Mixed Tribunals, the existence of which is due to these Capitalations, have done a great deal for the development of Egypt by the example they have given the native Courts of independence and righteous dealings, of Western justice, morals, and probity.

The question of the abolition di tho Capitulations, which has been so much talked of, is soon to be brought forward again. The disappearance of this inst link of Egyptian bondage is to be desired. for the good of Egypt. It is true that they have hitherto constituted a valuable and necessary guarantee for the Euro- pean population of the country. These guarantees have abw, under the British Protectorate, become unnecessary and useless, and they only continue to stand in the way of the country's further de velopment

With the abolition of the Capitulations, the Mixed Tribunals will naturally cease! to exist, and unity in the administration

The Jesuits were not long comg of justice will be established. But in Order and lede prevailed unifying the Law Courts places must be Fiserved in them for foreign Judges. ale than idea and AT BOXES & SEATS. $20.00 sauces improved raply; at the They will have to be in the majority For in cases where foreign interests are in- 3.50nent they are excitent

e regulation of nign-water ou tim: Mie,volved, as is the cam at present in the 3.00 that primary source of its 18 Egypt, une Mixed Tribunals. One must not lose cinais nna dalas wêre constructed, als sight of the fact that, the number of 2.50

others the magniineent barrage of dasuan, foreigners in Egypt amounts to 700,000, 2.00 renowned throughout the world. By and that they hold the far largest share these works the danger of bad harvests of banking, commercial, shipping, and Gallery Carpeted

1.00as eliminated, a more general and equate industrial interests.

able distribution of water became French interests and French culture Gallery

50 cts,

sible, and large tracts of land which bad have at all times been predominant in MATINEE MILITARY & CHILDREN lain waste from lack of irrigation were Egypt. French is spoken by every. cdu- brought under cultivation. important cated Egyptian. and is the language used reforms were introduced in all directious, in the Mixed Tribunals. The laws these Half-Price.

in public education, in the administration Courts have to apply are based on the of Justice, in the police, the prísun, Code Napoléon. It would be a mistake if the roots that French culture has sunk general sanitation, etc.

so deeply in the soil of Egypt should be torn up by the reforms in contemplation, Especially in the administration of justice the substitution of English for French laws and procedure would ba more of a disadvantage than a benefit.

BOOK YOUR SEATS AT ONCE (BOXES and CIRCLE only)

at MOUTRIE'S.

W. H. TREHERNE ALEX ALMAZOFF, General Manager. Adv. Manager

D. F. BOSTOCK, Proprietor.

[681

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TEA DANCE

10-DAY

Thursday, June 12th.

D. M. GOODALL,

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Cam Abas“ ARMADORMI," Lemoní. Come Barsye, GoPLATE PRKARS Owun, BOVITE,

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THE NEW: FRENCH REMEDY

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I am fully convinced that under Great Britain's guidance the future develop ment of Egypt will progress as rapidly as it has done hitherto. There is in ita favour the country's admirable situation, its fine climate and great natural wealth, the lively intelligence of its upper classes. the rare industry of its simple-minded and now emancipated peasantry. How- ever, Egypt is not yet ripe for self. government. The peasants who constitute the vast majority of her population can neinther read nor write, they have very little political interest, and no political idens whatever.-Timei.

The principal endeavour of the British administration has been to improve the condition of the peasants, the fellahren, who form the great mass of the Egyptian population. Before the occupation the peasant was weighed down by the burden of numberless grinding, taxes, which op-' pressed him all the more that they were collected in the imost unconscionable manner by exacting and corrupt colles tors. One of Lord Cromer's arst acts was to abolish most of those excessive taxes and to introduce a righteous and practical system of collecting those that had to be maintained. The taxes were made pay able at times best suited to the peasant namely, when he gathers in his harvest.

To protect the owners of small plots of land from the wiles of the usarer, whu was formerly his bane, a law has bear passed prohibiting the forced sale of such amall plots for the recovery of debt. The initiative in passing this law was due to Lord Kitchener, one of Lord Cromer's THE UNEMPLOYMENT DOLE. successors in Egypt. The improvement introduced in the irrigation systera has,

While making every allowance for the moreover, greatly increased the agricul tural production and raised the value of temporary dislocatios of service created landed property. Thanks to these mer by the war, Mr. J. H. Clynes, M.F, speaking at Birmingham recently, con- sures, the Egyptian peasant has for the tended that in the intervening months be first time in history been raised from a

tween Noveraber and

state of misery and semi-slavery to should have been capable We Government

normal conditions of human existence These conditions may now even be called

prosperous.

of doing some thing better than paying out of the pubise purse more than £1,000,000 a week doing nothing at all. They should have made private in- The most striking feature of the British used their brains,

in order ing straightforwardness and a keen sense that the men and women.

administration is ita honesty. Unwaver- terest a secondary considerationem-

раб might

bo engaged in useful of justice aro qualities which characterizes sesyces, and might earn their not only the heads of the British ad- ministration in Cairo, but the numerous living under conditions of dignity instead to the exchanges week by marching of British officials, high and low, spread about in the provinces. These were at week to receive their public dale.

There was nothing more scandalone

be should Srst regarded with a certain amount of

of which the country nothing

the enormous suspicion by the natives, who had no more heartily ashamed, been accustomed to much honesty among sums of money which had been amassed Civil Servants of their own race. Nor automatically by

certain sections of the had their experience of foreigners in people through what was almost inevit their relations with the native been inable profiicering during a war which left variably of an agreeable nature. Too one section impoverished to the point of need of Govern many of these had shown that their sole being destitute and

However, he was not deepon- aim was make rapidly by

inconsiderato exploitation of the country dont with regard to the tubare, behoving

that people were now more equal to deal without caring much for its betterment

The Egyptian has now learnt that in ing with big problems. The need of the British official be has a disinterested moment was the wise use of the great furtherer of the country's interests, and power the workers possessed. There could the work a powerful and fearless protector of his bo no reconstruction unless British brain

carry and muscle joined to rights against say one attempting to de Unless

during this summer Drive him of them, whether native or to the Occasion

The more

foreign. By the example, which the wed to it was:

out

in earnest, British official has given to the native class mind

face official, and by the control he has exer it would have so black a winter to a cised over him, the moral level of the that it would find it difficult to grope latter has been raised, and he bas under its way through But if statemanship gone a remarkable change for the better looked ahead and provided for stern neces-

Another striking feature of the British administration is its constant care not

to interfere with the private life of the

sitjes as, they arose; this Parliament had as great a chance as a representative as sembly ever had.

.6.6

JUNE 12TH, 1919.

GENERAL INVITATION

-TO THE

HONGKONG PUBLIC.

"MORAL

SUICIDE"

Will be screened at the VICTORIA TODAY THURSDAY (12th). Nothing that we can say about this "picture would adequately describe it. It is the most wonderful film that has been released for many a year.

It has no peer, and ranks as the greatest achievement in photoplay production. The theme is out of the usual, treated in an unusual way, and is a scathing depiction of man, his downfall and his regeneration.

From the standpoint of intense dramatic value of the story, the wonder- fully impressive scenic effects and the remarkably high grade of photography, it is unsurprassed. It is a brand new film and supreme in the importance of the moral subject it deals it with

MORAL SUICIDE" is a very expensive picture, and even if we increase the prices threefold it would still not be a "business" proposition

for us.

Prices will be as USUAL. Book your Seats IMMEDIATELY.

LA MINERVA CIGARS. SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Sold by-

PERFECTOS

In Boxes of 28

$2.50 per box.

A Cigar of full flavour and attractive shape, covered with the finest Sumatra Leaf,

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