سياسي خارجي ٣٥/٥٦٣٦ "مصر: التقارير السنوية ١٩٣٤-١٩٣٨" [و‎‎١‎٥] (٣٤٢/٣٦)

45. The fall of Nahas Pasha made it necessary to begin over again with
the new Government of Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha. The ambassador at once
informed the new Prime Minister of the position, and found no difficulty in
securing his complete approval and co-operation both as regards the British
reinforcements (consisting chiefly of an anti-aircraft regiment and a light tank
battalion) and the measures recommended to be taken by the Egyptian
Government. Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha was considerably perturbed at the
disparity between the local British and Italian air forces, and was definitely
anxious to see the Royal Air Force reinforced in addition to the land forces.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs of Staff had approved the “ Combined Plan for the
Defence of Egypt ” drawn up by the local British Service commanders, and on
the 18th January an abridged version of this plan was sent to the Prime
Minister. Two meetings were then held between Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha, the
ambassador, the General Officer Commanding-in-chief, the Air Officer Com
manding and the naval liaison officer, at which the abridged plan was discussed
item by item. The Prime Minister accepted the plan in principle and authorised
direct dealings with the Egyptian defence authorities in the matter of its detailed
application. This proved no easy task. The latent suspicion of British motives;
the Government’s intense fear of being accused by the Wafd (who had now
reverted in opposition to an anti-British attitude) of subservience to Great
Britain; the lack of proper organisation in the Ministry of War and of properly
qualified Egyptian officials; and the virtual absence of Egyptian technical
services and equipment to carry out defence works all proved formidable obstacles.
The tendency towards inertia was much increased as the scare of invasion from
Libya wore off in the spring and early summer and in consequence of the signature
of the Rome Agreement in April. These factors were responsible for the
continued reluctance of the Egyptian Government to set up joint Anglo-Egyptian
committees to tackle the problems of resources in war, or to agree to any regular
and effective system of liaison in defence matters. Nevertheless, it was possible
by sustained efforts to induce the Egyptian Government to make progress in
various directions, and Headquarters, British Troops in Egypt, were successful
in securing their co-operation over the organisation of the defences at Alexandria
and Mersa Matruh. Egyptian collaboration proved easier and more effective
when Hassan Sabry Pasha took over the Ministry of War on the 27th April.
The general defence situation steadily improved as the British forces received
new equipment and as further reinforcements were sent out from the United
Kingdom in response to repeated representations from the ambassador and the
local service commanders. The chief amongst these were the despatch of three
further squadrons for the Royal Air Force in Egypt and an infantry brigade to
Palestine for the immediate reinforcement of Egypt. In preparation for eventual
Egyptian collaboration, considerable study was given to the question of the supply
of petroleum and other vital requirements by an informal Resources Board
composed of representatives of the embassy and the British services. The British
authorities also worked out schemes for utilising, to the maximum in war time,
the services of the British civilian community in Egypt.
46. The international crisis of September 1938 came at a particularly
unfortunate moment, when three British units from the Egyptian garrison were
in Palestine and many officers were on leave. When, on the 20th September, it
was suggested from London that precautionary measures should be taken, the
General Officer Commanding-in-chief sent a mechanised cavalry regiment to
Mersa Matruh for reconnaissance purposes, the Egyptian authorities put into
force the contemplated anti-sabotage arrangements throughout the country, and,
later in the day, began to pay serious attention to air raid precautions.
Meanwhile, His Majesty’s Government had decided that the situation warranted
the concentration of the greater part of the Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandiia,
and on the 22nd September over thirty of His Majesty’s ships arrived under the
command of Admiral Sir Dudley Pound. Following upon a conference between.
His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires, the admiral, the General Officer Commanding-
in-chief and a representative of the Air Officer Commanding (at which it emerged
that the Italian forces in Libya were being heavily reinforced) the Prime
Minister agreed that further precautionary measures should be taken tor the
protection of the fleet. These were rapidly carried out, and included the move of
the British anti-aircraft regiment and of one Royal Air Force fighter squadron to
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