Coll 15/1 'Egypt Affairs: General Situation 1931; Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, 1936' [‎188r] (376/493)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
Printed for the Cabinet. May 1933.
Copy No.
CABINET.
Proposed Initiation of Preliminary Discussions, with a View
to a Resumption of Negotiations for an Anglo-Egyptian
Treaty Settlement.
SECRET.
^ C.P. 119 (33).
Question of future Location of the British Forces in Egypt.
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA.
A copy is attached of a telegram sent to the Government of India on 21st April
asking for their views on the proposals in the Foreign Office letter of 13th April,
No. J. 925/G., and of the Government of India’s reply of 27th April. It will be seen
that the Government of India deprecate the complete withdrawal of the British forces
from the vicinity of Cairo to the east^line 32 degrees, unless His Majesty’s Government
find that no treaty can be negotiated on any other basis.
For my own part, I fully recognise the desirability of a treaty settlement with
Egypt, as I presume that it may become more and more difficult to resist her claim to
be admitted to the League of Nations, and once she became a member of the League
it is difficult to see how, except on the basis of a treaty, we could justify the presence
of British troops in Egypt at all. Moreover, His Majesty’s present Government seems
to have an opportunity, which may not recur, of securing a not unsatisfactory treaty
settlement, especially now that the Egyptian Government, backed by King Fuad, is
favourably disposed towards us.
On the other hand, though I am not convinced that it would not be possible, in the
last resort, to defend the Canal from the Canal zone, I realise that this task would be
made much more difficult by the removal of our troops from Cairo. When I was a
member of the C.I.D. Committee that considered this question in 1927, it seemed
to me that the most difficult problem was that of the water supply of the troops.
If this water supply can be ensured, I should be inclined to agree to the withdrawal
from Cairo, provided that it can be shown that such a step is really essential to the
prospect of obtaining a treaty. The Foreign Office will no doubt recognise the need
for extreme caution in the preliminary discussions, and the necessity of obtaining as
many safeguards as are possible. 1 would suggest that, while we should, in the last
resort, refrain from sacrificing the chances of a treaty upon the question of the Cairo
garrison, our representatives should be instructed, in entering into any preliminary
discussions that may be sanctioned, to bear prominently in mind the advantages o*f
retaining our troops in their present locations, and, if this should prove to be
impracticable, of trying to secure the largest possible zone as a pis alter.
In view of the grave issues that are involved and of the vital interest that is taken
in them by the Service Departments, 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. and the Dominions, I consider
that the negotiations should take place in London.
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. , S. H.
4 th May 1933.
Telegram from Secretary of State to Government of India, Foreign and Political
Departinent, dated 21s£ April 1933.
989. Most secret. Walton’s personal letter to Metcalfe, dated 3rd November
PZ. 6031/32. Anglo-Egyptian treaty negotiations.
2. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs proposes very shortly to submit proposals
to Cabinet for initiation of preliminary discussions in Cairo between His Majesty’s
High Commissioner and Egyptian Prime Minister, with a view to resumption of
negotiations.
3. Discussions would turn on two most important points at issue, viz. :—
(а) Future location of British forces in Egypt; and
(б) Future administration of Sudan.
1859 60 5.33