258 Egypt
to be boiling up. Mobile columns were organised,
armoured trains, steamers, and cars were again ordered
out, warships arrived at the ports, aeroplanes demon-
strated overhead, and the country was cowed into sullen
submission. But all prospect of political co-operation,
even of passive consent, disappeared. Sarwat Pasha
abandoned his attempts to form a Government.
Lord Allenby, who had patiently persisted in present-
ing the Coalition Government with a choice between
immediately renouncing the Protectorate or heavily
reinforcing the army of occupation, was now recalled to
report. Egyptian moderates, remembering the recall of
Wingate under very similar conditions, took leave as
sadly of c' Allah-nebi" (the prophet of God) as did
Egyptian extremists of the " blessed martyr/1 Saad,
who simultaneously left for an exile in the Seychelles,
which he was not expected to survive. But these
doughty champions were destined to try yet another
bout together. Zaglul was shortly removed to Gibraltar,
and was then released after British doctors had restored
his health, injured by over exertions in twisting the lion's
tail, an exercise that he at once resumed in Paris.
Allenby, Hio had left with his resignation in his pocket,
was back Ji Egypt well within a month; but he now
brought in that pocket the national independence of
Egypt. Fast as he travelled, rumour had outrun him.
He was swept from the station to the Residency on a
wave of public enthusiasm. For the moment he displaced
even Zaglul in the affection and admiration of their fickle
mistress, Cleopatra.
The Declaration, published the day after his arrival
(February 28, 1922), is a conveyance of straightforward
common sense and courage. It is, indeed, a document
worthy of a high place in our diplomatic archives.