Eighth: Saad–Milner negotiations and the Declaration of 28 February 1922

The negotiations

• Egypt's aim: end the Protectorate and have Britain recognise full independence, internal and external.
• They failed because Britain insisted on a nominal independence: Britain would protect foreign interests and minorities, and Egypt would be barred from independent relations with other states.
• Saad refused a treaty offering only shadow independence, so Britain arrested him in December 1921 and exiled him to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

The Declaration

• On 28 February 1922 Britain declared: the Protectorate ends and Egypt becomes an independent sovereign state.
• But it reserved four conditions, keeping for itself the right to:
  • secure the communications of the British Empire in Egypt — to justify the presence of the occupying army;
  • the defence of Egypt — to justify preventing a strong Egyptian army;
  • the protection of foreign interests and minorities — to justify interference in internal affairs;
  • disposal of the Sudan.
• The people rejected it because it did not fulfil their hopes fully.

What the Declaration did grant

• The right to establish a constitution as the basis of government.
• The ruler's title was raised from Sultan to King: Sultan Fuad became King Fuad I from March 1922.