File 3136/1914 Pt 4 ‘German War. Egyptian situation’ [‎97r] (198/744)

received their education in Lnropean countries, chielly in .France, and are
imbued in some degree with European culture, which has widened
their mental horizon, though in some cases the impact of Western ideas,
upon their national virtues appears to have produced undesirable tendencies.
The finest example of the Albano-Turkish aristocracy is the new Sultan of
Egypt, to whose personality we make a more detailed reference in a subse
quent paragraph. Lapse of time and force of circumstances have greatly
weakened and in many cases entirely obliterated the Turkish sympathies of
these men, who have developed a limited patriotism lor the country of their
birth and adoption, in whose fortunes they know that their life and well
being are completely merged. The loyalty of these classes during the
present crisis may be counted upon; but, we venture to suggest that their
adhesion to the British cause may be strengthened by a statesmanlike policy
of conciliation and of generous concessions to their sentiments and
reasonable expectations.
THE ASPIRATIONS OF EDUCATED EGYPTIANS.
( 8 .) Some members of the influential classes mentioned in the preceding
paragraph, and also the literate classes generally, including the upper
strata of educated Moslem Egyptians, especially the students, are influenced
by somewhat vague ideas of nationalism and independence ; but we found
that the more thoughtful and experienced men with whom we had con-
versaiions were fully alive to the deficiencies of the Egyptian people in
numerical strength and defensive power in the present stage of their social,
intellectual, and political development, and readily recognised that they
could not stand on their own legs without the help of a strong protecting
hand. They clearly realised that in view of the geographical position of
Egypt and the situation of the Suez Canal as a vital link in a world-chain of
British interests, such effective support can only come from the direct
suzerainty of Great Britain. Enlightened Egyptian opinion consequently
seemed to us to be practically solid in deprecating any eventuality calculated
to disintegrate the fabric of prosperity, now being raised, or to cause a break
in the steady moral and material advance of the country. The Egyptian
politicians, however, do not make any secret of their aspirations, which tend
in the direction of autonomy under Imperial protection or an uncontrolled
management of such of their internal affairs as are free from international
complications. They desire a gradual straightening out of these entangle
ments and a complete and immediate sweeping away of the Capitulations.
We are not aware whether in deference to Italian susceptibilities or for what
•other political reasons, which no doubt must be strong, the Capitulations
are still maintained at ihe present most opportune juncture when their
abolition might perhaps have caused the least disturbance in the international
atmosphere, charged as it is with the absorbing exigencies of the War to
the practical exclusion of minor questions. We understand, however, that
the Capitulations are doomed to extinction at the end of the War, and to
this consummation the Egyptians, we think rightly, are looking forward
with confident expectation.
( 9 .) The educated Egyptians cherish the hope that the closer association
with the self-governing traditions of the British nation, which has now been
inaugurated, will eventually result in raising the political status of the
-country to a higher plane, with a local Parliament instead of a deliberative
Assembly whose legislative activities under its present constitution can be
rendered inoperative. They recognise the futility of aspiring to the manage
ment of their mditary and naval affairs, which must remain under the contiol
of the Protecting Power; but in the matter of purely civil legislation, which
cannot affect Imperial interests, the Assembly s powers, they think, should
be widened within safe limits.
( 10 .) How far these expectations are within the range of practical politics
it is'not for us to say, but we agree in the view that a beginning might
safely be made in regard to the management of (\) the Waqfs, (ii) the