244 Egypt
go to Paris (April 7, 1919). Upon which Rushdi and
the Cabinet resumed office, and there was another of
those anming millennial fraternisations that signalise
the success of a revolution. Only a few days before
(April 3) Cairo rioters, raiding Armenians, had been
fired on by the British troops and had lost nine killed
and sixty wounded. Now the embarrassed Rushdi was
smothered in the embraces of his extremist enemies,
British soldiers were cheered, and even Sultan Fuad
was, for once in his life, acclaimed.
But these millennial amiabilities proved even shorter
and more shallow than had been the m£lee they suc-
ceeded. The Nationalists had had a most encouraging
success, but their real objective, the abolition of the
Protectorate, though obviously now realisable, was not
yet realised. These palm-leaf processions and all-round
presentations of olive branches only marked a truce,
during which the general strategy of the nationalists
was changed, though for the moment no change in their
tactics was apparent. For the rioting was almost imme-
diately resumed, apparently much where it was broken
off. For example, the interrupted attack on the Cairo
Armenians was resumed, and seven were killed (April 9).
Isolated British soldiers were again attacked, and eight
were killed, while four officers and fifteen men were
wounded. But, all the same, the rebellion had entered a
new phase—that of passive resistance. Sabotage was
to give place to strike action. Even before Allenby's
arrival the nationalist organisation had recognised that
activist disorder and destruction had served its purpose.
It could not be carried further without armed resistance;
but any calling up of the Egyptian Army would only
invite a knock-out. They had won first round and had
scored heavily on points. They had learnt the lesson of