England and Egypt 293
recognised,1 that the reserved points are vital interests of
the Empire not to be discussed by any Foreign Power, and
that we should consider any intervention by a Foreign
Power in Egyptian affairs as an unfriendly act. This is
quite sufficient in itself to deter any third party from bring-
ing an Egyptian question before the League ; and any
possible doubt as to our attitude was removed by the
special reserve of the British Government (November 19,
1924) to the Protocol for the Pacific Settlement of Dis-
putes. This stated that if the Protocol was signed by
Egypt the British Government would allow of no appeal
to the League as to the reserved points. There is there-
fore no means of bringing in the League without the
approval of the British Government. But with that
approval there appears to be nothing in the dependent
position of Egypt to prevent its becoming a member.
For example, Cuba is a member in spite of relations with
the United States somewhat similar to those between
Egypt and ourselves. But even membership would not
of itself give Egypt the right to raise under Art. 18 of
the Covenant its relations with Great Britain, they being
of the nature of internal affairs of the Empire, Thus,
an effort by Ireland to bring its Treaty of 1921 before
the League was successfully opposed by us. We could
of course, none the less, accept if we chose the assist-
ance of the League in arranging a future relationship
between the Empire and Egypt. But this would not only
be a very drastic departure in principle from our previous
policy and a precedent with far-reaching consequences
on imperial relations, but also a proceeding that might
1 The British Protectorate was recognised by France in 1914,
by the United States in 1919, and by other Allied States at inter-
vening dates. It was recognised by the enemy Powers at the
Peace Treaties and by Turkey in the Treaty of Lausanne.