The Second Joint Note (May 1882)

02The Second Joint Note (May 1882)

• The two consuls felt the situation portended revolution and the deposition of the Khedive, especially as it was attributed to the Urabists that they sought to replace Tawfiq with Prince Halim.
• On the consuls' reports, England and France sent ships of the fleet in a naval demonstration off the Egyptian coasts, on the pretext of protecting their subjects' interests (May 1882).
• The two states demanded the resignation of the Baroudi ministry and the removal of Urabi from Egypt. The demand was delivered to the Urabists amiably by Sultan Pasha, president of the Chamber of Deputies — he lost the revolution's leaders' confidence and afterwards became known as the traitor.
• The Baroudi ministry refused to resign at the foreigners' request, and the demand increased the Urabists' cohesion: everyone — Baroudi with the officers — swore the oath to defend the country and be loyal to the revolution, and Sheikh Muhammad Abduh administered the oath to the officers.
• But Khedive Tawfiq accepted the note of the two states, so the ministry resigned in protest (May 1882).
• Tawfiq formed a new ministry but could not get rid of Urabi: under the officers' pressure he appointed him minister of war and marine and commander-in-chief of the army.
• England began to move towards acting alone, apart from France; the opportunity came when part of the French fleet withdrew and only British ships remained. The British fleet commander began demanding that the government raise no fortifications, while the Khedive did not protest and the Ottoman sultan made no move.