The Mac Donald-Zaghloul Pasha Interview

A clarification from the Egyptian Legation

The Egyptian Legation communicates the following note to us: In Egyptian official circles, the accuracy of the statement of demands presented by His Excellency Saad Pasha Zaghloul to the British Prime Minister, as communicated by the latter in his letter to Field Marshal Allenby published by the press, is not disputed.
It is only noted that the British Prime Minister omitted to indicate in his letter that the discussion of the various heads constituting the Egyptian demands began with the question of the Suez Canal.

Mr. Mac Donald explained to His Excellency Saad Pasha Zaghloul that the imperial military authorities considered it essential to maintain British forces in Egypt for the protection of British navigation on the Canal. H.E. Saad Pasha Zaghloul observed that the Suez Canal is a means of communication of world interest and that, consequently, if it was necessary to ensure its protection outside Egypt, the principal interested party and owner of the soil and banks of the canal, the best thing would be to address the League of Nations and to place the neutrality of the canal under the protection of the League.

Mr. Mac Donald having rejected this proposal and maintained the opinion of the imperial military authorities, the discussion ended without the other heads of the Egyptian claims having been examined.