Britain in Egypt: Egyptian Nationalism and Imperial Strategy, 1919-1931 by Jayne Gifford

Author:Jayne Gifford [Gifford, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: International Relations, Great Britain, Europe, Imperialism, Modern, 20th Century, Middle East, Political Science, History, Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, General, Egypt
ISBN: 9781838604943
Google: 39-zDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 52197960
Publisher: I.B. Tauris
Published: 2019-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

6

‘I Wish Austen Were Less of an Old Woman and Less Occupied with His Tea Parties in Geneva’: The Conservative Government and the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty Negotiations

Negotiations for an Anglo-Egyptian settlement were not attempted again until 1927 under a very different set of circumstances from that of 1924. Britain was governed by a Conservative administration under Stanley Baldwin, with Austen Chamberlain at the helm of the Foreign Office. Egypt, on the other hand, was led by Abd al Khaliq Sarwat Pasha.1 Following the resignation of Lord Allenby over the handling of Sir Lee Stack’s assassination, George Lloyd was appointed to the post of High Commissioner. Lloyd’s appointment to this post was not without difficulties.2 Despite a promise from Baldwin to Lloyd that Egypt’s High Commissionership was his, he was actually offered the governorship of Kenya where the white settlers had been ‘clamouring for him’.3 Chamberlain commented to Baldwin that ‘some of our colleagues seemed to think that G[eorge] L[loyd] was not sufficiently imposing’.4 Leo Amery, now Colonial Secretary, made it clear to Lloyd that there had been a change of mind about sending him to Egypt as they had found a more suitable candidate. Although Amery promised Lloyd would be considered as a possible Viceroy for India, Lloyd’s long-held ambition, he would not be the first choice for the position. Amery therefore implied that ‘unless G[eorge] took Kenya, there would be nothing for him at all’.5 Since Lloyd had turned down the Governorship of Kenya seven years previously, before heading for Bombay, this came as ‘a staggering blow and utterly bewildering’.6

Nevertheless, undeterred by this news, both Lloyd and his wife, Blanche, continued to press his right to the High Commissionership of Egypt and the Sudan throughout March, lobbying individuals, such as Stanley Baldwin, Edward Wood and Austen Chamberlain. This finally paid off and, despite receiving short shrift from Austen Chamberlain over a letter Lloyd had written to him,7 Lloyd received a phone call from Baldwin assuring him that ‘it is all right […] the post will be offered to him’.8 The offer was made on 30 March 1925. However, it was a hollow victory as Chamberlain informed Lloyd that ‘his pressing his claim in the way he did had done him harm both with himself, Austen and with the prime minister – and had left an unfortunate impression on their minds’.9 A sign of things to come! The Lloyds departed for Egypt in October 1925 in full knowledge of the difficulty involved in making a striking success as a British administrator in Egypt. ‘That is the big gamble of taking the post’, remarked Lloyd.10

The Lloyds’ arrival in Egypt

On 21 October the Lloyds landed at Port Said and were met by Ralph Wiggin, First Secretary of the Chancery, and Robert Furness, Oriental Secretary, and a number of Egyptian officials. They then completed their journey to Cairo by train and were met by Nevile Henderson and a number of Egyptian notables and members of the British community. Incidentally, on the day of their arrival it had rained in Cairo, which was looked upon as a good omen.

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