THE SUEZ CANAL Its Past y Present, and Future BY LT.-COL. SIR ARNOLD T. WILSON K. C. I. E., C. S. I., C. M. G., D. S. O., M. P. The question of the Suez Canal Companys con cession is a very complicated matter, which requires to be elucidated. MR, , CRrY in House of Commons, Juty 1910. The prosperity of the Kast is now dependent upon the interests of civilization at lar e, and the best means of contributing to its welfare, as well as to that of humanity, is to break down the barriers which still divide men, races, and nations OK LFSSFPS, July He that taketh a vay weights doth as much advan tage motion as he that acideth wm s. LORD CHANCELLOR BACON. SECOND EDITION OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO Much can be done by temperate and courteous discussion. It is impossible that two great nations like France and England should not have clashing and conflicting interests, for they have possessions and protectorates in every quarter of the globe, and they touch each other in almost every part of the world. If they had not competing interests and rival ambitions they would not be the great nations they are. Rivalry in every direction is the very essence of their greatness, and neither can complain of the other because it is ambitious and far-reaching. Neither could forgo its ambitions vuthout descending in the scale of nations. Monsieur WASHINGTON French Ambassador, at the hlansion House 6 March 1893 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION book was published in December 1933, at a time more --favourable than the present to the dispassionate consideration of international problems. Much has happened since then. A Treaty of Alliance between Great Britain and Egypt, signed on 26th August 1936, has substituted a permanent military defensive alliance for the British military occupation of Egypt. Egypt was therein recognized as a sovereign independent State and announced her intention of joining the League of Nations she has since done so. The following article deals with the Canal Zone. ARTICLE 8. In view of the fact that the Suez Canal, while being an integral part of Egypt, is a universal means of communication as also an essential means of communication between the different parts of the British Empire, His Majesty the King of Egypt, until such time as the High Contracting Parties agree 1 that the Egyptian Army is in a position to ensure by its own resources the liberty and entire security of navigation of the Canal, authorises His Majesty the King and Emperor to station forces in Egyptian territory in the vicinity of the Canal, in the zone specified in the annex to this Article, with a view to ensuring in co-operation with the Egyptian forces the defence of the Canal. The presence of these forces shall not constitute in any manner an occupation and will in no way prejudice the sovereign rights of Egypt. The Annex provides that, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 7, the numbers of the British forces to be maintained in the vicinity of the Canal shall not exceed, of the land forces 10,000, and of the air forces 400 pilots, together with the necessary ancillary per sonnel for administrative and technical duties, excluding civilian per sonnel, e. g. clerks, artisans, and labourers. The areas over which the forces will be distributed are specified necessary lands and durable barrack and technical accommodation, including an emergency water supply and reasonableamenities, are to be provided for them by the Egyptian Government, with certain contributions from H. M. Govern ment. The effect of this clause can best be understood in the light of the Constantinople Convention of 1888 to which Austria-Hungary, 1 It is understood that at...
