Ramadan

The past week saw the beginning of Ramadan--the Muslam month of fasting. Politicians also fasted.

The Parliament of the new Government, under Premier Ziwar--narrowly elected over his Republican opponent ex-Premier Saad Zaghlul Pasha (TIME, Mar. 23)--assembled.

At once, the Republicans under Zaghlul conflicted with the Constitutional Monarchists of Ziwar. At the polls Ziwar had eked out a small majority. But, as is the case of Mr. Collidge's Victory in the U. S., his majority at the pools did not carry with it a majority in the legislature. As soon as the Chambers od Deputies organized, that fact was evident. Promptly Zaghlul was elected President of the Chamber. Equally promptly did Ziwar secure the dissolution of Parliament-- ten hours after it assembled.

Then Premier Ziwar set on foot new plans.

He announced that a Cabinet committee would devise a new election law requiring electors and candidates to fulfill certain educational and tax conditions. This is to reduce the large vote from the uneducated classes which, allegedly, never know about what they are voting. The drafting of this law will probably take all summer and is not likely to be decreed by King Fuad until September. Elections may then be held in October; and the Egyptian Parliament will probably not meet until next November.

Interviewed on the political situation, ex-Premier Zaghlul was calm, said: "It is simply this, that constitutional government in Egypt has temporarily ended. Both dissolution of the chamber and the proposed modification by decree of the electoral law. . . are utter unconstitutional."

The Government view was:

"The most patriotic course open to Zaghlul is a complete retirement from politics. After Zaghlul's almost undisguised republicanism, King Faud cannot possibly accept a Zaghlulist Cabinet, which is also highly embarrassing to the British Government, while we know too well the effect in the country generally.

"Zaghlul's accession to power would be a return to the anarchy and indiscipline from which the Ziwar Cabinet has lately steadily been effectinga rescue. The inevitable result of a return of the Zaghlulist regime would be the defeat of all the hopes of Egyptian independence and a resumption of British control. We are determined at any cost to prevent this eventuality."

The difference between the policies of Zaghlul and Premier Ziwar is one of method. Both aim at the independence of Egypt and the Sudan. The former tries to get it by boldness; the latter by friendly cooperation with Britain.