EGYPT UNDER BRITISH RULE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3216, 12 May 1911, Page 5

EGYPT UNDER BRITISH RULE.

“DIRECT SELF-GOVERNMENT A FAILURE.”

STATEMENT BY SIR ELDON GOItST

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT.}

(Received May 11, 11.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 11

In, a Blue Book dealing with Egypt, Sir Eldon 'Gorst, the British Agent at Cairo, declares that as far as the Legislative Council and General Assembly are concerned, the experiment of admitting Egyptians to a larger share in the administration has 2>roved a failure. Both bodies, -during the first half-year of 1910 displayed a steady and increasing tendency to become the mere instrument of the Nationalist agitation, against the occupation of Egypt. Since November' however, the Council lias been less im-' practicable, and some valuable measures have been passed, The failure of the experiment of direct self-government is attributed to the Egyptian and local European Colonies interpreting the concessions as weakness, and the lessening of British authority.

“ WHAT IS! THE REMEDY?”

(Received May 11* 11.40 p.m.)

Sir Eldon Gorst continued: “The remedy is to teach the Egyptians that we don’t intende to be bustled into- going further and faster on this path than we deem well for the people as a whole. Until this elementary lesson has been tohroughly learned there is no prospect of further developing the Legislative Council can usefully be entertained. We must preserve in our endeavor to base the relations between two races on a spirit of mutual confidence and goodwill.”