Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎79v] (158/176)

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lilies, in a form unobjectionable to His Majesty's Government, apart from references
to Kin" Fouad as “ King of Egypt and the Soudan ” and to the Soudan as “ belonging
to the Egyptian Kingdom.” Sarwat, however, informed Lord Allenby that he was
quite prepared to modify or even to omit these particular clauses.
Egypt and the Lausanne Conference.
56. Shortly after the 15th October Sarwat expressed the wish to send an
Egyptian delegation to the Lausanne Conference, which was then about to assemble,
to take part in the discussions when the clauses relating to Egypt in the Turkish
Treaty were under consideration.
57. There ensued a complicated series of negotiations between Lord Allenby and
Sarwat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , as a result of which a general measure of agreement was reached
regarding the articles of the new treaty which should replace articles 101 to 114 of
the Treaty of Sevres.
58. His Majesty's Government felt justified in going far to meet the wishes of
the Egyptian Government in regard to the form of the new articles, as they had every
reason "to hope that Egypt would then formally accede to the treaty on its signature.
The effect of this accession would have been to invest the unilateral declaration of
the 28th February, 1922. with the force of a bilateral agreement between Great
Britain and Egypt. With such an agreement His Majesty's Government could have
afforded to regard the future relationship of the two countries with equanimity, as
treaty sanction would have been secured to the reservation for future settlement of
the four questions described in the declaration as being vital British interests,
viz. :—
(1.) The protection of Imperial communications.
(2.) The defence of Egypt against external aggression.
(3.) The protection of foreign interests and of minorities.
(4.) The Soudan.
As satisfactory arrangements for Egyptian participation in the conference had
been reached with Sarwat, the French and Italian Governments were asked to join
with His Majesty’s Government in inviting a duly accredited Egyptian delegation
to proceed to Lausanne.
Fall of the Sariuat Ministry.
59. This was the position when at the end of November the following telegram
was received from Lord Allenby :—
“ Sarwat has informed me that he proposes to place his resignation in the
• hands of the King on 30th November.
“He stated his relations with His Majesty, which had long been strained,
had recently become impossible; that King not only obstructed conduct of
Government, but lost no opportunity to weaken Cabinet’s position, and openly
sided with elements hostile to it.
“ I asked him whether he was not willing to stay in office until Constitution
was passed by King, since he knew he could count on my full support.
“ He replied that this was impossible because the King, even if forced to
sign Constitution, would make it known through his press that whole respon
sibility rested on Sarwat, whom, a propos of Soudan articles, His Majesty had
gone so far as to describe as a traitor, who was trying to force His Majesty to
assent to a document that deprived latter of half of his dominions.
“ Sarwat went on to say that in these circumstances it was impossible to
remain in office, and he made it clear that his decision to resign was definite.
“ I fear there is much justification for Sarwat’s statements about King,
whose attitude has lately swung towards Zaghlul. Although Sarwat was
insistent that his relations with the King were his only reasons for wishing to
resign, I think it possible that he has been moved by—
“ (1.) Decision taken two days ago by Adly Party to withhold their support
if he met my wishes in regard to Soudan clauses of Constitution;
“ (2.) Growing apprehension of criticism of line he has taken in accord with
His Majesty’s Government with regard to revision of Treaty of Sevres; and
perhaps also
“ (3.) The recent political murders (of members of the new Liberal Consti
tutional Party).