The Prime Minister's reply to the demands of Zaghlul Pasha
has been published as a White Paper. For the first time we learn exactly what Zaghlul Pasha has been asking for. His demands were impossible, and the Prime Minister's " conversations " with him were a case of "I'm not arguing with you, I'm telling you." This, after all, was exactly what was expected. Zaghlul Pasha asked for the withdrawal of all British troops from Egypt, Egyptian control of the Sudan, the with- drawal of the financial and judicial advisers, the abandon- ment of -the British defences of the Suez Canal and the abandonment of the right to protect foreigners. The presence of the British troops in Egypt is essential for the safeguarding of the sweet water supply. If that supply were not guaranteed the defence of the Suez Canal—awl that means the defence of the British Empire—would be impossible.- We should like to have an expert opinion, however, on the suggestion which has often been made that a sufficient supply of fresh water could be condensed on the shores of the canal. Very likely, even if wholesale condensation were possible, it could not be considered apart from the military problem of defence as a whole. Zaghlul's ridiculous demands have made his position in his own country unnecessarily difficult, though we imagine that he will get a vote of confidence in the Egyptian Parliament if only because he has at present no serious rival for the leadership.
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