Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎111r] (223/473)

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had teen carried out with Zaghlul, who is our enemy,
instead of with the Egyptian Government. He felt, however,
that we were now to a considerable extent committed to
the scheme, a view which did not meet with unanimous con
currence in the Conference. Lord Allenby attached great
importance to a future procedure supporting our friends
instead of trying vainly to conciliate our enemies. Among
our friends are the present Egyptian Ministry, who would
then in all probability give us their loyal support in the
execution of the scheme. At the present time the Egyptians
were coming to realise that they were receiving fair-play
from the British, both in internal and in foreign affairs.
Unless, however, they received a large measure of autonomy,
they would cc ^ider that they had been betrayed, as, even
though wrongly, thej' regarded Lord Milner as a plenipotentiary.
Lord Allenby attached great importance to the fact that the
British Government had guaranteed to uphold the Sultan and
his dynasty. This committed them to some degree of inter
ference in the affairs of Egypt. In his experience the
Sultan, though unpopular, was a shrewd man and an honest
man, who would support us if we supported him. If we failed
to give such support, we should earn the contempt of our
enemies and the hostility of our friends. He urged that any
army of occupation must be British. The conduct of the
Indian troops had been unexceptionable, but the Egyptians
disliked the long-continued presence of coloured troops.
Subject to these remarks. Lord Allenby was not opposed to
Lord Milner^ proposals, as a basis for consideration in
consultation with a representative Egyptian Delegation to
be nominated by the Sultan; but he regarded as essential the
retention for the present of troops in Cairo.
The question was then discussed as to whether the
proposed British force was sufficient to enable us to maintain
the dynasty.
Irt