EGYPT FROM 1914-1956
PART 1
THE INTERWAR YEARS
It is very useful to know a little about the interwar years in Egypt in and of itself, but
also because this will provide you with material that will help you explain the rise of
Nasser.
(It will give you a sense of some long term factors)
A
THE FACTS
Egypt had been under de facto British control since it occupied Egypt in 1882
although Egypt was still nominally an autonomous state of the Ottoman Empire.
FACTORY
1914: It was not until 1914 that Egypt was declared a British protectorate.
1919: In 1919 Egypt’s position was a matter for intense debate during the peace
negotiations.
1922. Britain grants Egypt formal independence in 1922.
This was mainly thanks to the Egyptian nationalist political party organisation known
as the Wafd. For they were well organised and had vociferous representatives in both
in Paris (during the peace negotiations) and in Egypt whilst it was a British
protectorate, Britain had to grant Egypt formal independence in 1922.
FACTORY
1923: King Fuad was established as ruler and a constitution was drafted in 1923.
FORIEGN POLICY
Despite the fact that Britain had declared Egpyt an independent power in 1923, the
fact is Egypt was not yet completely independent. Britain still reserved for herself the
right to organize the defense of Egypt and the right to protect “imperial
communications”.
In other words, British military occupation of Egypt was continued after the granting of
Egyptian independence in 1923.
POLITICS
From 1923 onwards, Egyptian politics were dominated by:
(a) the struggle of the monarchy to increase its power and
(b) the determination of Wafd to assert sovereignty of parliament.
In their battle, both sides turned to British for support. This meant that the British
presence became important in internal politics as well as Egyptian foreign affairs.
FACTORY
1936: The 1936 Treaty formally ended British military occupation.
However, still that did not mean the end of the British presence. For Britain retained a
presence in the Canal Zone and access to military facilities in the event of war.
Military links between Britain and Egypt were therefore extremely close. Indeed, so
much so that during the Second World War (as happened in World War 1), Egypt
was once again under virtual British occupation.
B
THE QUESTION
A CLASSIC QUESTION ON EGYPT IN THE INTERWAR YEARS IS:
“Independent but under British control.” How accurate is this description of
Egypt in the inter war years?
To answer this question you must know the basic narrative of events in Egypt in interwar years. You absolutely must make sure that your narrative contains some clear
reference to Britain, as British presence is a major theme in the 70 years of Egyptian
history between 1882 and 1952.
Having said that, whilst you can approach the question chronologically, but you have
to make your answer analytical. So make sure to give the reader a clear explicit
sense of your consideration of the limited nature of independence.
Try to develop your analytical comment on military occupation and the real
consequences of the 1936 Treaty.
The best essays will go up to the Second World War, make some brief references to
post-war period and comment that Egypt was not truly independent until mid 1950s.
Make sure you link this discussion of the term ‘independence’ to the consequences of
the First World War.
ALL OF THE ABOVE PROVIDES A USEFUL CONTEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING
THE RISE OF NASSER.
One way of using this material in an essay on the rise of Nasser is to include a
paragraph on the one very long term causal explanation of the 1952 revolution or the
rise of Nasser.
e.g.
One long term reason for the success of the revolution and the rise of Nasser was
the failure of all previous Egyptian parties to assert and win complete independence
since Cromer’s rule began in 1882. Nasser made the most of this long desired
objective, indeed he embodied it and often referred to the need for the Egyptains to
“overcome their history’ in his speeches, as he did on the eve of the Suez Crisis. The
First World War had quashed the national indepndence movement in 1914 when
Britain explicitly declared Egypt a protectorate. The agitations and lobbying of the
Wafd achieved a greater sense of independence in 1922, but even then Britain still
controlled Egypt’s foreign policy and kept a significant military occupation. Indeed,
the way in which both the King and the Wafd turned to the British to support their
respective domestic political policies during this period can not have endeared either
side to those more extreme nationalists, or even the 1936 treaty (which still meant
Britain kept a military presence in the Canal Zone).
However, if you do this you must do so in such a way that you make clear to the
reader that you realise this is not the most important causal factor in explaining the
1952 revolution. In other words, your analytical framework should make it clear that
there are other, more important short term and immediate factors. However, this long
term one is not to be underestimated.