Correspondence with A J Balfour, Sir R Wingate, Lord Allenby, Lord Milner and others on Egypt [‎12r] (23/300)

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representatives out demande a se rendre & Londres pour plaider la cause de I’iCgypte.
J’ai conseille de les laisser partir et de les entendre. Non seulement on a passe outre
de mon conseil, mais on a refuse de m’entendre moi-meme, meme pour discuter quel
devrait etre eventuelleraent le statut de protectorat.
“ L’Kgypte va e^re ainsi le seul pays qui n’aura pas pu faire entendre sa voix au
moment oil il va etre d^finitivement statue sur son sort.
‘‘ Dans ces conditions, je tiens a reprendre ma liberte et en consequence j’insiete
respectueusement aupres de votre Hautesse pour I’acceptation de la demission.
“ De votre Hautesse le tres humble, etc.”
No. 15.
Sir R. Wingate to Mr. Balfour.—(Received December 27.)
(No. 1944.)
(Telegraphic.) Cairo, December 26, 1918.
\ OUR. telegram No. 1558 having crossed my telegram No. 1928, I propose to take
no action without further instructions.
Sirry Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has visited me again and stated his conviction that Ministers are
gradually realising that they have gone too far and would like to draw back if they
could find some means of saving their faces before the public. Their object, in his
opinion, can only be achieved by some concession on the part -of His Majesty’s Govern
ment which will enable Ministers to go to England comparatively soon. They would
have no objection, he thinks, to being absent for some time if you could fall in with
their views on main point of leaving Egypt when accommodation on a steamer is
available.
I do not entirely share Sirry’s optimism, but many observers here feel that we
may have for a period to govern directly through Advisers and thus compromise results
of recent years of co-operation with Sirry. After interval which has occurred since
resignations, it is considered our prestige would not suffer if some way could be found
oi conciliating Ministers who still profess entire loyaltv to Protectorate. I doubt if
despatch of a commission to Egypt, to possibility of which you have alluded, would be
of any satisfaction to general demand for direct reference to London. On the other
hand, removal from local pressure and contact with fresh influences would probably
enable Ministers to take a wider view of their responsibilities. No rescript is, of course,
required if the Ministers remain in office, and issue of their resignations has so largely
superseded agitation fur independence that we need not press Sultan for any disavowal
at present. Government has been carried on so far without inconvenience.
(Confidential.)
I have felt for some time that demands for greater liberty, &c., which are now
being addressed to us must represent something more than a fresh outcrop of Egyptian
Nationalist sentiment. Separation from Turkey has, of course, stimulated idea of
-^eypti an aS opposed to Turkish nationality. My conversations with late Sultan
Hussein prove to me that, foreseeing downfall of Ottoman dominion, he was working
for an Egypt which could take the leading place amongst Mohammedan countries and
satisfy inherent demand of Islam for support of a strong Mussulman Power. He was
conscious that such a policy was conditional on close union 'with Great Britain. It is
quite possible that these ideas are still influential, and that cry for independence or
autonomy is not only concerned with political liberties, but also based on apprehension
that, if too openly subjected to Christian protection, Egypt can never hope to regain
supremacy she once held in Islamic world. Sultan Fuad is intensely jealous of position
now attained by ruler of Hedjaz, and views our dealings with him with expressed dis
approbation. Mohammedans will rarely speak openly on such matters, but I should
not be surprised if insistence on request to be heard in London before Peace Conference,
which will settle the future of many Mohammedan nations, is not due to a wish to
appeal to His Majesty’s Government not to repress Egyptian individuality to a point
which would prevent this country from aspiring to replace Turkey as first Power in
Islam.
Any assurances in this order of ideas which His Majesty’s Government could
give—perhaps confidential assertion to leading Egyptians—would undoubtedly be of the
greatest value.