1950-11-21 — Page 8

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1950.

BEVIN REJECTS EGYPT'S DEMAND

No Intention Of Withdrawing Troops From Britain Resting On Treaty Until Changed By Consent

London, Nov. 20.

The Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, answered King Farouk's demand for the withdrawal of British troops from Egypt today by declaring that Britain had no intention of leaving the Middle East defenceless.

Replying

• to a suggestion fur- that Britain should stop

He indicated in the House of Commons that the British policy on Egypt would not be changed ther releases of sterling balan- by the demands made in King Farouk's speeches to Egypt, Mr Bevin warn- from the Throne to the Egyptian Parliament lasted Members to be a little more Friday.

He said that Britain's attitude remained the same towards the Sudan, which King Farouk in- sisted should be reunited with Egypt under his Crown. "The Sudanese must decide their own future," Mr Bevin said.

"I think I would leave it where it is and let the negotia-

tions go on," he said.

Asked whether Britain should stop supplying Egypt

with arms, including Centurion

tanks, Mr Bevin. said he would leave that to the Minister of Defence: to answer.

Mr Bevin said that Britain entered into 3 contract for Government have no intention of taking any step on agreeing tanks and Egypt paid for them. would He did not like breaking con- to any measures which

had and Britain leave the Middle East defence-tracts easily

which decided to supply those less."

had been *the The Sudan

had been paid for.. scene of great progress in the

Mr Eden said that Article 16 social and economic of the Treaty said political,

specifically lald years. It down that a new Treaty should fields during recent

anything be on the basis of certain ár- would be tragic

ticles were to disturb this.

of the 1936 Treaty Mr Bevin said that the

Alliance for mutual defence.

• OBLIGATION Government's attitude remained Sudanese the same that the

This was agreed to by "every freely

single political party in Egypt." should, in due course,

Was that not an obligation decide their own future.

which no Government could unilaterally renounce? he ask- ed.

Mr Bevin added that he did) not despair, of being able to reconcile the conflicting British at his and Egyptian views

London forthcoming talks in

the Din Bey, with Salah El Egyptian Foreign Minister. The Foreign Secretary that: the Anglo Egyptian Treaty, contained no provision for modification or revision ex- cept by mutual consent.

He

told the House that

been Britain had

willing to discuss the possibility of revis- ing with the Egyptian Govern- ment and there had been dis- between cussions this summer the British Ambassador and the Egyptian Government.

if

NOT DESPAIRING Mr Bevin said that despite the difficulties he did not des-

King, Farouk announced "Tast | Fair of being able to reconcile. Egypt Friday that Egypt demanded Britain's position with

and just basis, on a friendly of the immediate evacuation

of the Canal which would take account British troops from

the factors he had mentioned. Zone and the complete unifica-

Foreign Minister Egypt's under the tion of the Sudan

would be visiting London next Egyptian Crown

week and this, he understood, would give him an opportunity to talk the matter over fur ther.

Mr Anthony Eden,

leader, Conservative whether the British ment's position

SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP "It has always been the de- sire of the British Government to settle outstanding differences a spirit of with Egypt in friendship between the two countries on a basis of equality and with full respect for the independence and sovereignty of Egypt," he declared.

of war.

The two Governments had been in contact for many months on defence matters with the object of removing misunder standing and difficulties in that spirit, he said.

discussions no these In

had difficulties in principle arisen over the defence of the Middle East in time For this reason and in view of Britain's obligation under the treaty, British Government had training and continued in the equipment of their troops.

Mr Bevin said that for the to deny British Government assistance to Egypt and certain other countries altogether would to our treaty be contrary obligations."

The difficulties which had not yet been resolved did not con- ceun action in the event of war of defence but the question measures in time of peace.

that

COMMON DEFENCE The Egyptian Government had stated that they wished British forces to be withdrawn from the Canal Zone in time of peace, he declared.

Mr Bevin maintained

of common de- the principle fence measures in time of prace had been accepted by all the and was Western Powers "fully compatible with national independence and sovereignty."

Other countries in the Middle East were co-operating in that why. 1.

Canal Zone

Caught Mapping.-This is only a portion of the huge map of Germany used by allied personnel in the war room of the Joint Manoeuvre HQ at Heidelberg. . (Acme).

¿

The One-Track

Mind

NOTICE

BRITISH RED

CROSS

SOCIETY

Post-Certificate Nursing Scholarship

For. Colonial Nurses

Mr Bevin: "That is the view we have taken-all-through."

Mr Somerset de Chair, Con- servative, said that the 1936

Cairo, Nov. 20: Treaty, which bore the personal

of the signature

present

Egypt would

not join the Atlantic Pact if this meant that Egyptian Prime Minister (Nahas Pasha), provided specifically that the presence

of British foreign troops would be station- defence of the country, the Act- troops in the Canal Zone shoulded on Egyptian soil for a joint not constitute in any way aning Egyptian Foreign Minister,

A post-certificate nursing. Colonial deputy occupation and would not pre-Ibrahim Farrag Bey, declared

scholarship for asked judice the sovereign rights of here today.

He was commenting on re- Nurses' tenåble for one year It was now perfectly Govern- Egypt,

the Egyptians it clear that

had ports that Egypt might be asked as from September, 1951, in was that rested on the Anglo-Egypian now decided to drag the Treaty to join the Atlantic Pact with a Treaty of 1936.

into the limelight of publicity view to reconciling the strategic the United Kingdom is being needs of Western defence in the awarded by the above So Mr Bevin replied: "WG to "mask severe discomfort." should not move except Dy Was it not a fact that if it Suez Canal Zone and the Egyp-ciety. mutual action of the two Go-

tion national aspirations.

vernments. We rest on the Treaty until

it is changed by mutual consent.

PERFECTLY CLEAR

Davies, Mr. Clement

of

a

-Reuter:

for

were not for the British Army,

Italian armies "We have already rejected the

The value of the Scholar- and German

ship is £350 which is intend would now be in total occupa- principle of joint Anglo-Egyp-

tian defence," he added. tion of the whole of Egypt?

to cover tuition fees, Any future talks with Britain ed Mr Bevin said that whatever

would have to be based on a full board,. lodging and incidental the

of motives

A particular

The successful did not realisation of Egyptian demands the country might be he

-namely, the evacuation of expenses. Liberal leader, asked if the think it wise to call them into British troops and unity of the candidate will be expected to Government considered the question in international affairs. Nile Valley, the Minister said. pay her own travelling ex- maintenance and protection

"I have to negotiate with

penses to and from the the Suez Canal as a highway these people," he declared. for international trade was

Brigadler Low, Conservative,

In keeping with the United United Kingdom.

ardent desire matter concerning the nations asked for an assurance that the

States' statement of

troubled Near policy stability in the Egyptian

Candidates must have ob- cast and west of the Canal,

If so, had it been made per- would not upset the plan to East, the spokesman said, the

tained a school leaving cert fectly clear

continually to

Department the Egypuan build reasonable accommodation State Government?

for British troops in the Canal expressed and will continue to tificate or its equivalent and and in addition have at least Mr Bevin replied: "I think Zone.

do so hope that Britain Mr Bevin: "We will look Egypt will be able to reach three years experience since. our position has been perfectly

since ever

the 1938 after the accommodation."

mutually satisfactory solution." clear

CHOICE OF LANGUAGE

"This is especially important passing their final nursing Treaty was made. It is clear-

interna examination, ly understood. on both sides," Mr Nigel Fisher, Conser in view of the tense

castern A Labour Member, Mr Ju-vative, asked: "If the. Egyptian tional situation and the

in as-Government persist their portant part the lian Snow, asked for an

in plays

the attitude, will you Mediterranean Sudanese dictatorial the that surance would "not be left to the ten-consider stopping all further re- world platire."

The view was held in some leases of sterling balance to der mercy of Cairo."

im-

Application forms, which may be obtained from the undersigned, must be return- Informed circles here thated duly "completed by the Mr Bevin replied: "The Egypt?" Sudanese have made a remark- Mr Bevin replied: "Really, I Egypt's threat to abrogate its 15th December, 1950.

Members of this House 20-year treaty with Britain was able development and theirs is ask

be more careful in their prompted by the troubled inter- MRS J. CRUTTWELL, an example to the world of what to

Egypt hasnal political situation.-United Hon. Secretary, Hong Kong can be done in territories and choice of language.

acted dictatorially. This Press. not

Branch British Red Cross by peoples of that kind.

House sometimes puts up pro-MONSCHAUMUQUMRI

wisdom other positions whose people question. I think I should Icave the matter where it' is and let the negotiations go on." -Reuter,

"We shall do nothing at. all to set that work back or leave it to the tender mercies of other people,"

Solution POSSIBLE Another Labour Member, Mr Harold Davies, suggested that international organisa- This is not a matter which some merely concerns the United-tion might be set up under the Mr United Nations to deal with Kingdom and Egypt,"

the problem. Bevin declared.

"What Is at stake is, the safe- ty and independence of other countries also."

Washington, Nov. 20. A State Department spokes- man said the Department hopes Egypt and Britain can iron out their differences in a "mutually satisfactory". manner.

The

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Mr Bevin rotorted: "I do not The State Department, how think there is any need to es-ever, is making no representa News contributions, always wel- tablish anything else. I think tions to either government, hold-come, should be addressed to the Amid cheers he added: "I it is quite possible, if handled ing the dispute is one to can assure them as I assure the correctly, that we shall arrive worked out by Egypt and House

of Commons that the at a solution of this problem." Britain.

be

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Telephone: 26611 (5 Lines).

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