PZ 5636/35 'Egypt: Annual Reports 1934 -1938' [‎69r] (144/342)

[15794]
9
(oS
33 Another issue early raised by Nahas was that of a general amnesty for
XT- orfe fd® rs - Here, again, the High Commissioner, with the approval of
ms Majesty s Government, informed Nahas that he strongly disapproved of the
project After much discussion Nahas modified the Amnesty Law to include
only political crimes since 1930, in which no murder had resulted.
34. Meanwhile, treaty discussions continued throughout May in spite of
interruptions due to the preoccupations of Nahas with internal politics.
35. On the 23rd May the State opening of Parliament took place, and the
Speech from the Throne was read by Nahas. It envisaged a very comprehensive
programme of reforms and contained a friendly reference to the treaty
negotiations.
36. On the 2 nd June the High Commissioner, accompanied by Air Chief
Marshal Sir R. Brooke-Popham and Mr. Smart, left for London by air in
connexion with the treaty negotiations. They returned to Egypt on the 29th June.
37. Towards the end of June the post of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State for Palace Affairs wus created. Nahas explained that this replaced the
original project for a Ministry of the Palace. Parliamentary Under-Secretaries
of State were also appointed to the Ministries of Public Health, Interior, Justice
and Foreign Affairs.
38. Another factor of some significance was the growth of the blueshirt
organisation. This body of Wafdist young men was first organised in January
1936 as the Wafd’s answer to the greenshirt and other anti-Wafd movements
instigated by the Palace or Opposition parties. By the middle of the year the
blueshirts were estimated to number several thousands and contained a large
working-class element as well as students. Their frequent appearances in public
in large bodies armed in some cases with clubs and knives, and their increasingly
truculent manner, caused considerable misgiving among the public.
39. Treaty discussions continued until the 24th July, when agreement was
reached on the military clauses. The Sudan clause was next discussed and
approved on the 1st August, and, finally, the remaining clauses were settled on
the 12th August. The delegations then left for England. The treaty was signed
in the Locarno Room of the Foreign Office in London on the 26th August.
40. The conclusion of the treaty was received quietly in Egypt, and in the
absence in Europe of all the principal actors of the Egyptian political arena, no
event of importance occurred until the latter part of the year. There appeared,
however, during September and October a growing volume of criticism of the
Wafd Government and strenuous efforts were made by various anti-Government
elements to organise opposition to the treaty. Relations between the Wafd and
Prince Mohamed Aly were also not good, the prince complaining that he was
treated as a cypher and that the Wafd were determined to encroach on the
prerogatives of the throne, Nahas accusing the prince of fomenting opposition
to the treaty. The tension between them was aggravated by a quarrel over the
bestowal of certain honours.
41 The Opposition consisted mainly of free-lance politicians such as
Allouba Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Ibrashi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Abboud Pash y^ iss yVaTv® was
elements such as the Watamsts and greenshirts, &c. The Liberal party was
divided on the treaty issue, the majority appearing to favour opposition. But
the party deferred a decision on its future attitude to the treaty until the return
of Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
42 The opposition to the treaty continued unabated throughout October
but its importance was temporarily obscured by the^ return to Egypt^^
^tfflStrOckbeJand^ere aSed^an offldal reception, and were greeted by
on the 13t , , ^ n t p e biggest crowd ever seen m Alexandna.
r h i a krHons e m thtir honour continued uftil their departure for Cairo on the
mfoctober On arrival in Cairo Nahas and Makram had an immense public
welcome, the crowd in the streets being estimated at 600,000.