Correspondence with A J Balfour, Sir R Wingate, Lord Allenby, Lord Milner and others on Egypt [‎10v] (20/300)

Sir R t Wingate to Mr. Balfour.—(Received December 20.)
(No. 1901. Confidential.)
(Telegraphic.) _ Cairo, December 18, 1918.
MY immediately preceding telegram.
In view of Sultan’s unsatisfactory attitude and of Rushdy Pasha’s persistence in
bis resignation, I thought it impossible for me to approach Rushdy Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. again
personally. In order, nevertheless, to give time for language of your telegram to have
its full effect and to leave no means untried of retaining at any rate some members of
the present Ministry, I requested Sir W. Brunyate to see Sarwat or Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and
to ascertain whether latter was prepared to form a cabinet. Sir William accordingly
had interviews with these two Ministers, and on the 16th saw Rushdy Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who had
been absent in Alexandria. The conversations which took place are reported in detail
by mail leaving to-day. Their general result leaves me in no doubt that we cannot
count on the support of any of above-mentioned politicians at present moment.
Rushdy Pasoa admitted the precise f irm of protectorate would not be determined
at peace congress, but he insisted that “official consecration’' would be given to
protectorate by congress, and that he could not be a Minister or render us useful service
at such a moment if nature of protectorate still remained undeterminate. So soon,
however, as protectorate was confirmed he would be ready to discuss its nature, and
hoped to operate with us in future. Sir William pointed out in clearest terms that in
the presence of extremist agitation Rushdy Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was taking a very great responsibility
and rendering Sultan’s position difficult, if nor impossible.
Similar, if not identical language was used by the other twm Ministers. Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
adhered to his view that Egyptian official representatives should be allowed to state
their case in person to Foreign Office at once, and that their position w 7 as otherwise
untenable. Under 1 urkish suzerainty he said that they had certain l ights, and they
desired to know what their rights would be as against Great Britain under protectorate.
But it was clear that he had no definite demands to put forward and could formulate no
constructive programme on which he might wish to approach His Majesty’s Government.
He has indeed during the war worked in such harmony with our schemes of reconstruc
tion that his defence of his recent action could onlv be a 'weak one. He disowned
extremists and associated himself frankly with protectorate.
Sarwat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. condemned extremists. He thinks with Adly that they do not
believe in their own programme and only adopted cry for independence from distrust of
Saad Zaghlul, who, they feared, would desert them and make terms for himself. Sarwat
had wished his two colleagues to remain in office, but did not feel strong enough to act
apart from them and confessed influence of social opinion on his own conduct. He
regretted his inability to join a neutral Ministry such as it has been suggested might
be formed under Mazloum Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the actual president of legislative assembly, or under
Sirry Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Some rigorous and even drastic action, he considered, would be necessary
on our part in order to allay prevailing excitement and permit the better elements to
rally to British side. Sarwat plainly stated that, in his opinion, most useful step
would be deposition of Sultan, who was in great part responsible for growth of
Nationalist agitation.
^ ou are aware that His Highness, on his accession, attempted to introduce into
Government the two men who are now leading extremist faction, and that he repeatedlv
urged dismissal of Ministers identified with present regime. His predecessor would
have taken a different and stronger line, and, in explanation of inconsistency of
Ministers who, while remaining our friends, refused to act with us, we must certainly
take into account the part which Sultan Fuad has played in the past year. It has to
be recognised of course that Egyptian politicians always shirk responsibility, and that
the ones with whom we are now dealing lack moral courage to stand up against
unpopularity. But they might well have presented another front had they been
supported now, as previously, by their own Sultan. They have still, I believe, implicit
confidence in traditional liberal policy of His Majesty’s Government.
In view of situation I have thus endeavoured to describe, I think I should now be
given your authority to advise the Sultan to accept formally the resignation o/ the
Rushdy Cabinet. Subject to your instructions I should then try to form a new
Government, composition of which would be submitted to you before its official
communication to the Sultan.
Mazloum Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who is much esteemed, would command considerable support,