Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎62r] (123/473)

6Z
section of the no re educated ptiar classes rvhich was not
not irre oncilable again to beco'-e onr friends. It was
necessary to take into account the n* v l r *-resp c, ct and national
self-consciousness of this party, or, one mipht ali.ost say,
its conceit: and that was why the torn ’’Bi-lateral Agreement”
had been used, as it implied the frank recognition of their
nationality, of their having retained or re a in.-d a place of
their own "in the sun”, their rela•ion to us being that of
all^s, not sublets or fellov-citisenc. Throughout the
discussions phraseology and face-saving had played an enormous
part, as the Coimtission realised that they were dealing with
Orientals and with children, very clever and potentially very
naughty children, but also people who, once they were con
vinced of our sincerity and real good will towards them, were
vory manageable. Some doubt had boon expressed as to what
extent these Egyptians represented Egyptian opinion. Thera
was no question that they had every conceivable credential
that unofficial acdssarioa could have, -her-- was practically
no public body in Egypt which had not passod a resolution
saying that Zaghlul represented their vie--a, cm tr.ere w»»
r . 0 . a -oico rad.s-d on th- oth-r side. This was, however, when
Zaghlul and his colleagues were supposed to advocate the
extreme national demand. The real question was how they woul.
be received when they went back to Egypt to advocate the per
manent maintenance of a British Army in Egypt and the perman
ent concentration of the exceptional rights of foreigners in
British hands, typified by the dropping of th fa - cms ■ A -
cate *complete”^ froo the formula 'independence”. So far as
he (Lord miner) could aa.-.e out, hewovor, theu proposals
swept the boards. It did not follow, however, tl at this
n ^ it reasonable to say
feeling would contmue, but he though- .
i W”. 3 t th-3 r i t i v3 k
that tho dorr inant feclin? o- hoo.ili-y «
4 once more
in vgypt had h-n brok-r. The old fissu.e -a.,
.. , M u-n t pi' t as tke
apparent, and it was wid-r t.-n
order of the day, and for the moment the par--, c.
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bl