CHAPTER X
ENGLAND AND EGYPT
" Where are they ? Where are thy wise men ? Let them tell
thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath
purposed upon Egypt"—ISA. xix. 12,
THE case of Cleopatra v. Caesar has now been reported
to date. Mutual incompatibility has been proved, and a
decree nisi pronounced. But before a final settlement
can be reached between the two parties, each must make
satisfactory provision for the interests of the other as at
present declared, but not defined, in the " reserved
points." Unless this can be done, both parties may in
the end lose the benefit of the decree, and until it is
done they have both indefinite liabilities.
The importance of such a settlement has been some-
what overlooked on our side, because Egypt appears to
the superficial observer as already sovereign and inde-
pendent ; whereas, as a matter of fact, Egypt has at
present less assurance of its status as a nation than
many of its neighbours. So long as the relationship of
the Empire to Egypt, its right of intervention in Egyptian
affairs, and its retention of military control, all remain
undefined, Egypt has not the real independence that
has been reached, for example, by Irak. There has
been, moreover, of late an increasing tendency in the
imperialist Press and among politicians to assume that
Egypt, in spite of the Declaration of 1922, remains in
some undefined way a part of the JEmpire, There
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