![Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎23r] (45/176)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x000298/Mss Eur F112_263_0047.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎23r] (45/176)")
Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [23r] (45/176)
The record is made up of 1 file (88 folios). It was created in 23 Apr 1923-17 Nov 1923. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
CIRCULATED TO THI CA^iNET,
| This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.
No. 1.—SECRETARY OF STATE.
EGYPT AND SOUDAN.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 9507/10/16] No. 1.
\\
Mr. Scott to the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston.—{Received vk'ptember 24.)
(No. 637.)
My Lord, Ramleh, September 14, 1923.
I HAVE the honour to report that I had an audience of the King yesterday
morning.
2. After the usual compliments I said that the progress made during the summer,
thanks to the good relations between His Majesty, the Ministry and Lord Allenby, had
been noted with much satisfaction. On the eve of Zaghlul Pasha’s return and with
reference to certain indications of the Wafd’s intended policy, I thought it a suitable
occasion to remind His Majesty of the declaration of the 28th February, 1922, as a
result of which His Majesty had become King of an independent Egypt. To this
declaration there were now added two enactments having the force of international
agreements which could not be repudiated, namely, the Indemnity Act and the law
regarding the compensation and retirement of foreign officials. His Majesty said that
neither the declaration, without which there could have been no monarchy or
constitution, nor the Acts, could, of course, be called in question.
3. In the course of further conversation I touched on certain factors in the
situation which appeared to me to constitute some danger, notably the vanity and
megalomania of Zaghlul
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
, who, in his desire to sweep the board at the elections,
might harbour an intention of undermining the Ministry in the hopes that an
administration might be brought in before the elections which would abandon the
neutrality of the present one and favour his party. I said His Majesty would
doubtless let Zaghlul
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
know who was master, and I warned him against doing
anything which might indicate a bias on his part towards the Zaghlulists, as they
would not be slow to take advantage of it for self-advertisement. His Majesty replied
at once that he had no intention of countenancing anything of the sort, and, in reply to
my enquiry, he said I might inform His Majesty’s Government that he intended, until
the elections had taken place, to give his full support to Yehia Ibrahim
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
and his
Ministry. 1 expressed satisfaction, and suggested on my part that it might be well if
His Majesty made some overt sign that the Ministry enjoyed his full confidence. He
replied that he had been thinking about that and had an idea of inviting them all to
some gathering, perhaps at Montaza, but he proposed to await the effect of Zaghlul’s
return before considering it further.
4. 1 then referred to another danger, namely, the possibility that some of Zaghlul
Pasha’s more hot-headed adherents might urge Zaghlul into a dangerous and extreme
line in foreign policy which would bring Egvpt into collision with Great Britain.
5. His Majesty assured me emphatically that every intelligent Egyptian, including
the Zaghlulists, realised Egypt’s only chance was to go hand in hand with Great
Britain—His Majesty himself had always been and was still firmly convinced of
this truth.
6. I said I hoped he was right, but it must be remembered that the Zughlulists
were for the most part men of no political experience, no stake in the country, some of
them adventurers and relying largely on the support of students, not therefore of the
class who would seem to have an interest in pursuing a prudent and conservative
policy so essential to maintain conditions of stabilitv during the inauguration of the
new regime.
7. His Majesty replied that, in his opinion, the political power of the future would
be found to reside not in the Zaghlulists or the Adlyists, but in the great bulk of those
whom he termed “ gentlemen farmers,” using the English expression. These had not
hitherto taken any part in politics, but would now find themselves forced to do so.
8. His Majesty then told me that Mohammed Said had asked His Majesty for
some special mark of his favour, but he had refused and told him he could continue
to sit on the four chairs with Prince Omar Toussoun, the ex-Khedive and the
Watanist leader.
[399 aa—2]
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, and newspaper cuttings relating to the political situation in Egypt. The memoranda are written by officials at the War Office, Admiralty, Colonial Office, and Foreign Office and mostly concern military policy in Egypt and the defence of the Suez Canal. The Annual Report on Egypt for the year 1921, written by Field Marshall Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, High Commissioner of Egypt, is also included. The report covers matters such as politics, finance, agriculture, public works, education, justice, and communications. Some correspondence from Ernest Scott, Acting High Commissioner in Egypt, to Lord Curzon can also be found within the file.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (88 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in roughly chronological order, from the front to the rear.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 88; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 1-88; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [23r] (45/176), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/263, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100168512401.0x00002e> [accessed 19 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100168512401.0x00002e
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100168512401.0x00002e">Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎23r] (45/176)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100168512401.0x00002e"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x000298/Mss Eur F112_263_0047.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001491.0x000298/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/263
- Title
- Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt
- Pages
- 2r:86v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence