Coll 15/1 'Egypt Affairs: General Situation 1931; Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, 1936' [‎65r] (130/493)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EGYPT AND SUDAN
CONFIDENTIAL.
April 20, 1946.
Section 1.
Copy No. 7 1
Cairo, Afril, 1946.
N/r R. I. Campbell to Mr. Bevin.—(Received 20th April)
(No. 707.)
(Telegraphic.) \/
WEEKLY appreciation.
Lord Stansgate and the British delegation, which arrived on the 15th April,
were courteously welcomed by the Egyptian press and public generally, although
there were the inevitable statements that Egypt would accept nothing short of
evacuation and the unity of the Nile valley. Owing to the illness of Sidki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
who, however, is now better, the delegations cannot meet before the 23rd April.
Meanwhile, Lord Stansgate has had informal conversations with Sidki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , anti
King Farouk has received the delegation.
2. Pending the opening of official negotiations, the lull in Anglo-Lgyptian
political situation continues. Boycott of English in schools and universities has
ceased and anti-British agitation there has ceased for the moment.
3. Sudanese delegates continue to be embarrassing to the Egyptian
politicians, who are unable to get the delegates to fall in with Egyptian desiderata
which amount to a parliamentary and administrative union of Egypt and the
Sudan. King Farouk is reported to be particularly annoyed at the refusal of
the delegates to make any mention of King Farouk in their speeches.
4. The opening speech of the Governor-General to the Advisory Council
has provoked violently hostile reaction among Egyptians, who maintain that, as
a representative of condominium Powers, he has no right to make fundamental
declarations of policy on behalf of one of those Powers. The Governor-General’s
statement that he was confident that in twenty years the Sudan would be govern
ing their own country (a statement that has been read as meaning independence
in twenty years) has particularly aroused hostile criticism. The General’s speech
is regarded as pre-judging negotiations.
5. Press reports further trouble in connexion with senatorial election
campaign. A clash occurred in Serag-el-Din’s constituency, with the result that
one person is reported to have been killed and two injured. The Wafd has issued
a statement alleging that Administration interferes in the electoral campaigns.
This has been denied by Ministry of the Interior, but it is generally realised that
Sidki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is using his well-known methods to secure the election of as many
pro-Government candidates as possible. According to confidential information
from the Director-General of Public Security, who is inclined to be pro-Wafdist,
the Wafd, in spite of Government manipulation, are likely to secure nearly half
senatorial seats up for election and all such seats in Cairo. He asserts that the
Wafd are now getting the best of the Muslim Brethren in the villages and are
recovering ground in the schools and universities 1 he Muslim Brethren students
organised 0 an assault on Wafdist students in Cairo University the 18th April,
apparently in revenge for an attack on Muslim Brethren students made by a
Wafdist student some days ago.
6. The Wafd continue to lead a violent campaign against Sidki Pasha’s
conduct of treaty negotiations and to play to the extremist Nationalist gallery in
order to embarrass the Government and Egyptian delegation.
7. Secretariat of the Arab League has issued a statement to the effect that
the league is endeavouring to secure independence and unity of Tripolitania and
Cyrenaica and to enable their inhabitants to determine the form of government
most suited to them.
8. The Egyptian press is beginning to agitate again for Egyptian partici
pation in peace negotiations with Italy.
[76—141]