Point 5 of 9 — Lesson 24: Egypt from the 1936 Treaty to the Cairo Fire (1936-1952)Question bank: 0 questions (0 with pictures)
05The affair of 4 February 1942
Causes
UnderHussein Sirri Pasha's government a clash occurred between Britain and King Farouk because of his Axis sympathies.
When Axis forces reached the Egyptian frontier through the fall of Benghazito the forces ofGeneral Rommel, thePalace stirred demonstrationschanting"Forward, Rommel!"on2 February 1942.
Events
Britain met this by intervening tooverthrow the Palace's rule and appoint a ministry headed by Mustafa al-Nahas, delivering anultimatum the same day.
When the leaders and the King rejected the ultimatum, Britain moved tanks that surrounded the Abdeen Palace on 4 February 1942and intended todepose the King from the throne.
The Kingaccepted the ultimatum at the last momentand entrustedMustafa al-Nahas, head of the majority party, with forming a ministry; whereupon theBritish ambassador withdrew the plan to depose him.
Results
TheWafd government cooperated with Britain to ward off the danger of the fascist Axis, providing significant military aid that helped England defeat the Axis.
As the war neared its end, Britain feared the Wafd government would demand the evacuation of British forces from Egypt, so itallowed Farouk to dismiss the Wafd ministry and appoint one of the minority ministries, so that the people would be busy struggling for the constitution rather than against England — this happened inOctober 1944.
The affair of 4 February had a great effect on the army officers' sense that their dignity had been insulted, so they heldseveral meetings at the officers' club in Zamalekto consider the situation.
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