Rebellion and Independence 253
recognise Egypt as a nation, and Egypt should in return
recognise the Empire as the mandatory for European
interests. The boycott had thus brought the conflict a
stage nearer settlement by establishing that a settle-
ment could only be secured by negotiation as between
two Sovereign States, and not by the dictation of a
Suzerain.
This negotiation was opened at once in London be-
tween Zaglul and the Wafd of the one part as against
Milner and the Commission of the other. It resulted in
an agreement which was to be the basis of a treaty, and
was itself based on the following bargain : Egypt was to
be recognised as an independent constitutional monarchy
with representative institutions and the right of diplo-
matic representation. The Empire was to reserve the
right of maintaining a military force for the protection
of its imperial communications, "which was not to con-
stitute a military occupation nor prejudice the rights of
the Government of Egypt/' The Empire was also to
reserve the right of retaining British judicial and financial
advisers for the safeguarding of foreign interests after
suppression of the Capitulations and of the Debt Com-
mission. Other British and foreign officials were to be
retained or retired as might be agreed. The Sudan was
excluded from the transaction. The treaty was to come
into force after its approval by an Egyptian Parliament
and after agreement with other Powers as to renuncia-
tion of their international rights.
British imperialists had scarcely recovered from the
disagreeable shock of these revolutionary proposals when
they were agreeably surprised at their apparent rejection
by Egyptian Nationalists. Yet the resolutions passed by
order at Nationalist meetings were not, as generally re-
presented, flat rejections, but acceptances conditional on