مراسلات مع أ. ج. بلفور، السير ر. وينجيت، اللورد ألنبي، اللورد ميلنر وآخرين في مصر [ظ‎‎٨] (٣٠٠/١٦)

4
much weight, but it might easily become mischievous, and even seditious in character,
if left unchecked. You will no doubt adopt all necessary measures to prevent any such
developments. Please keep me fully informed.
No. 6.
Sir E. Winqate to Mr. Balfour .— (Received December 6.)
(No. 1810.)
(Telegraphic.) Cairo, December 4, 1918.
ON receipt of your telegram No. 1428 of the 27th November I wrote in the sense
of your instructions to Rushdy Pasha, who was pressing for a reply to his request to
be received in London, and I made it clear that His Majesty’s Government would
welcome a visit from himself and Adly Pasha at a more convenient date.
After a fitting interval J saw Sultan and informed him of concession to his views
which you had sanctioned in the matter of disposal of Khedivial estates.* I then
proceeded to discuss present nationalist aspirations. His Highness interrupted me
with an evidently prepared harangue in which he showed clear indications of having
been influenced by nationalist sentiments, even to the extent of using arguments we
have lately heard from the Saad Zaghlul faction, though not identifying himself with
latter nor expressing any desire to emancipate himself or his country from British
protectorate. His Highness stated that the Prime Minister shared his views, that he
had been disagreeably impressed by a memorandum which Sir W. Brunyate had
submitted to him as President of the Commission on Constitutional Reform (my
despatch No. 297 of the 24th November), and that he desired to tender his resignation
if he could not be permitted to represent his own case personally to competent authorities
in London at an early date. His Highness said that Adly Pasha associated himself
with Rushdy, and that he himself considered the two Ministers should be granted
a hearing without delay, and that he trusted I would telegraph a special request on
his behalf to that effect.
When Sultan’s excited demeanour made it possible for me to reply, I spoke at
length on lines of your telegram. I said present nationalist movement was really
subversive one. I had found it necessary to stop the propaganda in provinces and
schools, and that I should not hesitate to take strongest measures if it' appeared
desirable. His Highness rejoined that Anglo-French declaration in regard to Arab
countries showed that self-determination was part of our policy, and that Egyptians
may well be led also to expect concessions. He reiterated his opinion that Ministers
should be allowed to go to London at once, and that present effervescence would
increase when it became known that Egyptian views as to future of their country could
not be directly presented to British Government at present moment.
I replied the nationalist agitation was artificially stimulated, and mentioned
telegrams which had passed between himself and President Wilson as tending towards
impression that the Egyptian question might be considered at the Peace Conference
when it was clear that His Majesty’s Government had no such intention.
(I sent copies of these telegrams to Lord Hardinge by letter on the 24th
November.)
I further urged resignation of Ministers in the circumstances would make the
worst impression in London.
Early yesterday I received Rushdy Pasha, who tendered his resignation on plea,
as T understood, that he considered refusal of His Majesty’s Government to listen to
his views immediately involved an interpretation of meaning of protectorate with
which he could not agree.
His exact words were as follows :—
“ En me ralliant au protectorat, j’ai ete accuse de trahison par une partie de
1’opinion publique. ‘ En ne demissiormant pas sur le refus de me recevoir maintenant,
on dira que j’ai meme accepte de ne pas plaider aupres du Gouvernement britannique,
au moment favorable, pour un protectorat adapte aux conditions du pays.”
He was aware of tenor of my interview with the Sultan. Rushdy Pasha was
deeply afiected, and said he was doing what he considered to be his duty. I did not
i lie Sultan wished that the estates of the ex-Khedive might be taken over bv the Egyptian Govern
ment. This was done later, see No. 18 (below).