344 Egypt
British Government would use its control of the army to
prevent opposition to interventions in the internal affairs
of Egypt, and argued that the reserved points make no
mention of the army and are not in question at all.
Thanks largely to the mediation of Zaglul Pasha as
between the British demands and the defiance of the
iWafd majority in Parliament, an agreement has been
reached. Documents have not yet been published, but
the basis of compromise seems to be that the Egyptian
Government accept the maintenance of the status quo
pending a general settlement with reservations as to
ministerial authority and responsibility towards Parlia-
ment. The British Inspector-General is to fulfil his
existing functions and to have adequate rank, pay,"and
assistance. The Egyptian Government also agrees that
political influences are to be excluded from questions of
promotion, discipline, etc., and welcomes co-operation
for this purpose.
The significance of the controversy lies in the fact that
it concerned the national army, that recourse was at once
had to a naval demonstration, and that, peace was
patched up because neither party wanted war. Which
suggests that the present diplomatic relationship between
the English and the Egyptians is endangered by ill-
defined f< servitudes J> on Egyptian authority, whose only
*c sanctions" are our military - occupation and: our
Mediterranean fleet.