1939: Egypt

Egypt continued her progressive development through 1939. The Prime Minister of Egypt, Mohammed Mahmud Pasha, and his Cabinet, who had been appointed on June 24, 1938, resigned on Aug. 12, 1939. The new Cabinet was formed on Aug. 18 with Aly Maher Pasha as Prime Minister. Most of the members of the new Ministry are nonparty men and experts in their particular spheres. Only 5 members belong to the Saadist party, the second strongest party in the Parliament; whereas the liberals, the strongest party, refused to join a nonparty government. In a public statement the new Premier declared that the aim of the new Government was the improvement of the welfare of the peasant and working classes, the rise in standards of living and of health. This change of cabinets had, however, no effects on internal or foreign policy.

Italian and German Influence.

The European War which broke out at the beginning of September put Egypt and her strategic position into the limelight. Germany and Italy have both been most active in their propaganda in Egypt; and Germany especially had made Egypt the center of her propaganda for all Arabic-speaking countries. The basis of Germany's propaganda in Egypt had been laid by Rudolf Hess, the personal assistant to Chancellor Hitler. Hess who had been born in Egypt and therefore knew the local conditions well, was followed by Dr. Goebbels who paid a hasty visit to Egypt. The Fascist propaganda was facilitated by the fact that there is a very large Italian colony residing in Egypt. The outbreak of the war eased, however, the situation for Egypt, because Italy, contrary to all expectations, did not enter the war on the side of Germany. Thus the Mediterranean remained peaceful. Nevertheless, in view of the position of Egypt, as the guardian of the Suez Canal the military preparations were speeded up, the important ports of Alexandria and Port Said were strengthened in their defences and the modernization of the Egyptian army was pushed with great vigor. In accordance with the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Alliance of August 1936, Egypt declared immediately at the outbreak of the war her full solidarity with Great Britain and France. Prime Minister Aly Maher Pasha declared that Egypt's attitude would have been the same if the Treaty of Alliance had not existed because Egypt felt her cause to be identical with the cause of the democratic powers. Egypt insisted also upon her most friendly feelings towards the other Arabic countries and towards Turkey. Earlier in the year the Egyptian Foreign Minister had visited the Turkish capital with the view of achieving the closest cooperation with the Turkish Government. During the whole year the Egyptian Government showed several times its active support of the cause of the Palestinian Arabs and its interest in the development of Saudi Arabia.

Suez Canal.

Egypt was naturally fundamentally interested in the maintenance of the security of the Suez Canal which lies on Egyptian territory. The concession of the Suez Canal is to expire in 1968, when the property of the Suez Canal Society is to fall to Egypt. At the end of 1938 the Italian Government had raised claims to a share in the control and property of the Suez Canal. During 1939 this claim was not pushed officially by Italy, but it is well known that Italy has in no way abandoned her aspirations regarding the Suez Canal, which she considers a most vital link with her East African Empire. In spite of the continuation of peace in the Mediterranean in December 1939, Egypt did not in the least relinquish her watchful attitude and her military preparations, as Soviet pressure against Turkey increased and Italy reaffirmed her alliance with Germany and her negative attitude toward the democracies. See also ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN; IRAN; PALESTINE.