File 3136/1914 Pt 7 ‘German War. Turkey. Situation in Egypt &c.’

Content

Papers concerning Britain’s declaration of Egypt as a British Protectorate in November 1914. The volume includes:

• Correspondence relating to Britain’s annexation of Cyprus in November 1914, and the status of Cypriots and Egyptians in Cyprus as British subjects (ff 120-125).
• Papers concerning the status of Egyptians as British subjects (ff 116-119, ff 78-83), including Foreign Office guidance on the new Egyptian Nationality Law, dated 9 June 1915 (f 83).
• Copies of two proclamations (undated, both translations in English) addressed to the ‘People of Egypt’ (ff 102-115, ff 87-99), one of which claims to have been authored by the Senoussi [Senussi]. The proclamations are responses to Britain’s declaration of Egypt as a British protectorate.
• Translated documents taken from prisoners on patrols of the Bir Mahadat [Bi’r al Mahdāt], which are anti-British in rhetoric (ff 73-77).
• A copy of an intercepted letter (in French), dated 26 December 1915, addressed to Mohammed Farid Bey [Muḥammad Farīd], and presumed by British intelligence officials to have been written by Abdul Aziz Shawish [‘Abd al-‘Azīz Shāwīsh] (ff 61-65).
• Secret reports from MI1 (Military Intelligence, Section 1), reporting intelligence relating to Egypt, Turkey and Germany (ff 47-58).
• Papers reporting on the movements and actions in 1917 of the ex-Khedive of Egypt [‘Abbās Ḥilmī Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ], including his relations with Turkish officials (ff 5-36).

The volume’s principal correspondents are: the British Ambassador at Berne, Switzerland (Evelyn Mountstuart Grant Duff, Horace George Montagu Rumbold); the Foreign Office (chiefly Ralph Spencer Paget); the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. (Arthur Hirtzel, John Evelyn Shuckburgh).

Extent and format

1 volume (124 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 3136 (German War) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/462-467. The volumes are divided into 6 parts, with each part comprising one volume. The part numbers are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. There is no part 3.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 126; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in

English and French in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/10/467

Former external reference(s)

P 3136/1914

History of this record

Date(s)

9 Nov 1914-30 Mar 1918 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

First World War (1914-1918)ImperialismWar propagandaArab nationalismAnti-imperialismMilitary intelligence

Places

EgyptCyprus

People & organisations

Foreign OfficeHM Ambassador to Switzerland'Abbās Ḥilmī Pasha

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

File 3136/1914 Pt 7 ‘German War. Turkey. Situation in Egypt &c.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/467, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00016a> [accessed 5 June 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00016a

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00016a/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content