'Note by the Aga Khan and M. A. Ali Baig on the situation in Egypt' [‎57v] (6/10)

of the people is adopted, and ii in the governance of the country the good
of the Egyptians and their legitimate expectations as a self-respecting nation
are not subordinated to other considerations, the Nationalists would cordially
support the British authorities. They admitted that the measures for
extending cultivation and improving the material condition of the f ellah
had been strikingly successful, but in their opinion the educational policy of
the Egyptian Government under British guidance had been somewhat hall-
hearted, and it left an impression upon their minds that a real uplifting ol
the people of Egypt in the scale of nations w r as not desired for political
reasons, which, they urged, should not be allowed to stand in the way of
national advancement.
THE EGYPTIAN PRESS.
(18.) The Kanoun-al-Matbuat or the Press Law of 1909 has produced a
sobering effect on the Egyptian Vernacular Press. At one time there used
to be about 60 Arabic papers, and nearly the same number in European
languages in circulation in the country. The number of the vernacular
journals has considerably decreased recently.
The activities of the Arabic Press in Egypt were inspired and developed
by the different political parties, which under martial law are at present
quiescent. The most important of these organizations are :—
(1.) The Nationalist Party to which we have already referred.
(2.) The Hisb-al-Umma or the People’s Party ; and
(3.) The Islah or the Reform Party.
The organ of the Nationalist Party, M-Lewa, started in 1898 was the
most important political paper of its time. It was suppressed in 1912. Its
policy was inspired by Mustafa Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Kamel. The Numb replaced the
Lew a and subsequently Al-Alam. The latter was also suppressed in
November 1914.
1 he organ of the 1 lisb-al-l mma—a party composed ol men of substance,
the moderation of whose views was intended to serve as a counterpoise to
nationalist activities is .1/ (iarula. I he paper has dwindled in importance
since the resignation ol its editor, Luili-al-Sayed, an honest journalist whose
idealism was somewhat out of tune with the realities of the situation in
Egypt,
The Reform Party, which identilied itself with the policy of the ex-
Khedive, ventilated its views through the columns of AL-Moayijad. The
paper was at one time ably edited, and often adopted an independent
attitude, it has ceased to be ol much importance now.
Of the independent papers the /U-. l/mzm, started in 187b, is the oldest
and the best. It is an exponent of moderate and reasonable views, and its
policy is pro-British.
Al-Mokattam is another important paper. It is under the management
of Syrian Christians whose policy is strongly anti-Turkish. The paper is
looked upon as a semi-official organ of the British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and the Moslem
Egyptians, we are informed, view it with distrust and suspicion. In this
connection we may incidentally mention that the attitude of the British
authorities towards the Syrians is being watched with some apprehension
by the Egyptian Moslems.
The Copts have two organs, the Misr and Al-Watan, which watch over
and advocate their interests.
Among the European papers the most important seem to be the Egyptian
('(izette, Le 1 hare dAlexandria, Le Journal <lu Gaire, I'Lgypte-Egyptian
Morning Lews and La Bourse hgyptienne. All these are exponents of
European views.
It appears to us from what we have heard that under the combined
opeiation of the I less Act and martial law, the Arabic Press has to a large
extent ceased to reflect the trend of Egyptian feeling in all its aspects. The
suppression of some of the virulent papers was, however, a necessary
measure at the present juncture.