The London Settlement (1840)

03The London Settlement (1840)

Why the Great Powers intervened

• Egypt's victory raised the question of the balance of power in the region for the great European powers — Russia, France, England, Austria and Prussia.
• These states would not allow Egypt's supremacy and the extension of its influence over the Levant, Arabia and Crete.
• They entered negotiations with the sultan to impose terms on Muhammad Ali, ending with the Treaty of London (July 1840), known as the London Settlement.

The terms of the settlement

• Muhammad Ali and his heirs were given the rule of Egypt hereditarily, and Acre for his lifetime, with the evacuation of Crete, the Hejaz and Adana and the return of the Ottoman fleet.
• He was to pay an annual tribute to the sultan.
• He was to apply all the treaties the Sublime Porte had made with the European states, headed by the Treaty of Balta Liman.
• His land and naval forces were to be part of the forces of the Porte and at the sultan's service.
• If he did not accept within ten days he would be deprived of Acre; if he kept refusing for another ten days, the sultan would be given the right to deprive him of Egypt as well.
• If he refused, the signatory allies would use force against him, while undertaking to protect the sultan's throne.

France's position

• The Great Powers signed the treaty except France: the agreement had been made behind her back because of her traditional rivalry with England.
• France incited Muhammad Ali to reject the terms but then left him alone in the field.