The Kingdom of Egypt 279
Zaglulists obtaining all the elective offices. Parliament
was, therefore, immediately dissolved and fresh elections
were called for May, 1925, but were abandoned when
it became evident that they would inevitably result in
Zaglulism again sweeping the country.
For Zaglulism had by now received its first clearance
of the crippling suspicion that it had been responsible
for the murder of the Sirdar in particular, and for the
murder campaign in general. A gang of eight men had
been arrested, of whom one was a leading Wafdist, the
ex-deputy, Dr. Shafik Mansur, and it had been difficult
to get any evidence against them owing to this connec-
tion with the Wafd. But eventually one confessed and
gave evidence that led to the execution of the other
seven, while clearing the Wafd organisation of any com-
plicity with this gang.
Zaglulism had been in its origin a creation of the
conflict with the British. It had so far had no objectives
outside that conflict; but now a new opponent appeared
who was to cause a realignment of its front and some-
thing very like a rapprochement with its old British foes.
Among the factions composing the anti-Zaglulist coali-
tion under Ziwar there was one that called itself Ittihad
(Unionist), the others being mainly Constitutionalists of
various complexions. This Ittihad party, which professed
to represent the Conservative landowners, was a product
of the intrigues of one Neshat Pasha, Director of the
Royal Cabinet and an astute politician. Neshat and his
party of c< King's Friends " made the Palace first power-
ful, and then predominant in politics. Government by
decree had, in fact, given to King Fuad the opportunity
for acquiring personal power that he had long been wait-
ing for, and one that the Palace clique 'made the most
of* Ziwar, the Premier, being absent in Europe, the