At the end of war the Egyptians expected that as a reward for their faithful service and full support to the British the restrictions imposed on their national sovereignty and independence would be removed. However, the British Government did not respond in accordance with these expectations. Therefore, the Egyptians organized demonstrations and demanded the revision of treaty of 1936.

The Egyptians also demanded complete evacuation of the British troops from the Union of Sudan and its merger with the Egypt. But the actions of the British government in the post-World War II period raised serious doubts in the minds of the Egyptian people about the British intentions regarding evacuation of Egypt and unity of the Nile Valley.

They saw in the idea of ‘regional arrangements’ mooted by Great Britain and other powers and San Francisco Conference, an attempt to deny Egypt freedom to manage her own internal and external relations. On the other hand, almost all the sections of the Egyptian society desired a revision of the treaty of 1936. The British Government did not respond to these demands and aspira­tions and merely declared that the question of revision of the 1936 treaty would be taken up at the proper time.

Enraged at the indifferent attitude of the British Government the Communist and the Muslim Brotherhood organized mass demonstrations against the British imperialism. The hostility against the British presence was further aggravated by the deterioration in the general condition of the people in the post-world war period the growing frustration of the edu­cated unemployed etc. As a result by January practically every party and group in Egypt was raising voice for revision of the treaty of 1936.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

On 21 February 1946 the National Committee of Workers and Students gave a call for general strike for the purpose of holding meanings and demonstrations. They observed the day as Evacuation Day. How­ever, the demonstrations turned violent which resulted in the death of 15 persons and injuries 120.

To pay homage to the martyrs of the Evacuation Day, on 4 March 1946 “Evacuation Martyrs Day” was organized. On that day a section of mob turned violent and set fire to the British Military Police Post. It also killed two occupants of the post by stoning them.

While the British Charge d’ Affairs held the Egyptian Government responsible for the loss of lives due to its failure to take timely action, Prime Minister Sidki blamed the British army for the same. He asserted that the disorder was ’caused due to attempt on the part of four British Army lorries to cut their way through a crowd of demonstrators who were till then behaving peacefully.

These developments convinced both the parties of the desirability of arriving at some understanding without any further delay. Accordingly they decided to hold negotiations. Though initially the Egyptians were not willing to hold any negotiations unless the British delegation made any announcement that the British forces would be withdrawn from Egypt and the British delegation was not willing to make any such announcement, the way for negotiations was smoothened by the declaration of the British Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

He said, “The Government of the United Kingdom have proposed to withdraw all British naval, military and air forces from Egyptian territory and to settle in negotiations the stages and state of the completion of this withdrawal and the arrangement to be made by the Egyptian Government to make possible mutual assis­tance in time of war or imminent threat of war in accordance with the alliance.”

This announcement prepared the way for negotiations which started in Cairo on 9 May 1946. However, as Sudan was excluded from the scope of negotiations, the negotiations soon ran into hot waters.

Further obstruc­tion in arriving at a settlement were created by the opposition offered by the extreme nationalists, communists, students and workers. However, Egyptian Prime Minister withstood all the unfair weather and went ahead with his efforts to arrive at some negotiated settlement with the English. He paid a visit to London and held several rounds of talks with the British Foreign Secretary. As a result of these deliberations a new draft treaty was finalized. In terms of this treaty it was agreed:

(a) That all the British forces would be withdrawn from Cairo. Alexandria and Delta by 31 March 1947, while the final evacuation of the Egyptian territory would be completed by 1 September, 1949.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(b) In the event of attack on Egypt or the U.K. being involved in a war as a result of attack against countries adjacent to Egypt, both the government would co-operate and take necessary action in consultation with each other, which is considered necessary until the Security Council takes necessary measures. They also agreed to set up a Joint Board of Defence to advise the two governments on the measures to be taken for mutual defence.

(c) The Joint Policy for the Sudan, to be followed by the both govern­ments within the framework of the unity between Sudan and Egypt under the common Crown of Egypt will have for its essential objective to ensure the well-being of the Sudanese, the development of their interests and their active preparation for self-government and consequently the exercise of the right to choose the future status of the Sudan, and until these objects should be obtained provisions of the Condominimum Convention of 1899 would remain in force.

This treaty, however, did not lead to final solution of the issue because of the varying interpretation given to the third condition. While Prime Minister Sidki interpreted this terms as the “acceptance of the unity of Egypt with Sudan under Egyptian Crown,” the British asserted that the treaty did not envisage any change in the existing status and administration of Sudan and the final decision to decide Sudanese future rested with the Sudanese people. The contradictory interpretations of the terms generated much excitement.

Political demonstrations were organized in Egypt as well as Sudan in support of their respective stands. Prime Minister Sikdi Pasha was bitterly criticized for signing the draft of the treaty despite opposition of 7 out of the 11 members of the delegation. This was quite embarrassing for Sidki and he tendered resignation.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The new Prime Minister Mahmoud Eahmy En Nokrashi Pasha soon after assumption of office asserted his determination to protect country’s vital interests. He started negotiations with the British Ambassador to arrive at some agreed interpretation of the disputed point. However, in view of the rigid stands taking the two parties on their respective positions, the negotiations broke down on 26 January 1947.

Thereafter Nokrashi Pasha, with the approval of the Egyptian Parliament, decided to refer the case to the UN Security Council. However, the Security Council could not arrive at any decision and shelved the issue. The failure to secure any solution from the Security Council rendered the position of Nokrashi government critical and a demand for its resignation was raised.

In the meanwhile, Egypt was involved in a war with Palestine which broke out in the wake of UN General Assembly’s revolution of 29 Novem­ber 1947 regarding partition of Palestine. The crises had perennial conse­quences on Egypt. In the Palestinian War Egypt suffered a defeat which greatly undermined her position and encouraged her to think of improving relations with Britain.