Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎218v] (439/473)

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of steady and humane government, but partly also because an eminent English
statesman has put forward proposals which do not treat Egyptians as a subject
race. But the definite scheme advocated by Lord Milner's Commission has certainly
lost ground in popular favour since it was first promulgated, and it seems every
day less likely that a satisfactory settlement can be affected on the basis of that
scheme. It is extremely ingenious, but it is not, to speak plainly, sufficiently
straightforward to form the basis of a lasting settlement, nor does it provide for
the real practical difficulties of the situation.
2 . The whole controversy really turns on the meaning of the word
independence.'' The Milner scheme aims at establishing “ the independence of
Egypt on a secure and lasting basis ” (article 1 ). Great Britain will recognise
the independence of Egypt as a Constitutional Monarchy with representative
institutions ’ (article 3 (i)); but if Egypt is to be independent, how is Great Britain
concerned with the form of Government which she may adopt? Then, under
article h (ii), Egypt is to be under an obligation to enter into an alliance with Great
Britain, and the rest of the scheme for a treaty contains a number of provisions,
nearly all of which impose restrictions on the independence of Egypt. Egypt, in
tact, is to purchase her independence at the price of stipulations which, in the eyes
ot most Egyptians, would make that independence little more than a name.
I think that many of us have paid too little attention to the persistent claim
foi complete independence. It is obviously impossible for England to evacuate
Egypt and leave her to her fate, that we are inclined to regard “ fstiklal-el-Tam ”
as a mere parrot-cry, adopted to save the trouble of thought. But I think that
there is much more in it than that. Saad Zaghlul was not, in the past, a very
popular person, or very much trusted ; since his return to Egypt he has made
numerous blunders, and has been thrown over by most of his principal adherents;
but he still retains a great hold on the country, simply because he stands for com
plete independence. I he present Cabinet has placed “ undoubted independence”
in the forefront of its programme; I do not doubt that they would lose all popular
support if they lowered their claims.
4. I think the explanation is this. All Egyptians naturally desire the complete
independence of their country, as their ultimate object; but all Egyptians with the
slightest knowledge of public affairs are perfectly well aware of the fact that com
plete independence for Egypt is pot attainable at the present stage of the world’s
history. If we were to evacuate Egypt to-morrow, another Power would inevitably
replace us, as soon as the necessary international bargains had been made; Egypt
is rich, defenceless and not difficult to control, at any rate by a Power without
humanitarian scruples, and such a prize would not long go begging. Sensible
Egyptians know this, and do not want us to evacuate the country; on the other hand,
they do not want to bind themselves to any arrangement which would deprive them
of their hope of complete independence if the civilised world should come to a better
mind.
They want our protection until international affairs are placed on a sound
basis, and then they want to enter on equal terms into the community of nations.
They thus desire the widest possible autonomy which they can get without losing
our protection; but they do not want any scheme which would make Eo-ypt part of
the British Empire. They would regard such a scheme as prejudicing their legiti
mate hopes for the future, and they accordingly detest such words as “ protectorate ”
and ‘dominion," which would imply membership of the British group of nations
5. On these points the Milner Report appears to me to be sound- it is the
conclusions drawn which I think defective. What is wanted is not’a precise
( efimtion of the international status of Egypt, but a modus vivendi which would
enable Egyptian institutions to follow their normal course of development under
our protection. If we ask Egyptians to accept, and embody in a treaty, any status
for Egypt short of complete independence they will resist'to the last for fear of
prejudicing the future; but a modus vivendi tor (say) ten years would involve no
final decision as to their ultimate future. The desiderata from the Eo-yptian point
of view would thus appear to be f
( 1 .) Protection by England against external foes;
ill I ? 6 ! a ^ gest measu , re of autonomy possible, consistently with such protection *
(3.) No definition or binding agreement which would prejudice the claim of
Egypt to complete independence, as soon as she can safely dispense with
British protection. J ^