268 Egyptian Nationalists [1909 



none of their visits paid to him in camp, he devoted three hours to 

 newspaper correspondents. 



" He told me also some interesting details of the Government's deal- 

 ings with the rulers of various native States, notably with Scindia, 

 Holkar and the Nizam. Scindia, it seems, had accumulated eighty 

 crores of rupees in specie as a reserve fund in case of actual rebellion 

 and for the payment of an army he kept up of some strength. This 

 immense sum the Imperial Government, taking advantage of there 

 being a Regency (a favourite opportunity), invested in Government 

 securities, and this bound the Gwalior State to loyalty. This was 

 managed under Lansdowne. Under Curzon, the State of Indore, 

 Holkar's, was in like manner manipulated during a Regency. 



"31st Aug. — Newbuildings. Two young Egyptians came to dine 

 and sleep, and consult me about their hopes. They have come to 

 England on behalf of the National Congress to be held at Geneva on 

 the 13th, the anniversary of Tel-el-Kebir. Both young men are 

 courageous in their opinions, and the elder especially of a keen intelli- 

 gence, reminding me not a little of Mustapha Kamel, but speaking 

 English instead of French. The younger of a purer Egyptian type, 

 the son of a rich man in the Delta, who has been for three years an 

 undergraduate at Oxford. The first was a disciple of Abdu's, and 

 has taken a degree at the University of Lyons, and has been working 

 for some time past among the Delta villages, preaching political ser- 

 mons in the mosques. He gives a very hopeful account of his pro- 

 gress among them. Both are thoroughgoing in their plans. They 

 came to ask my advice as to the course of action they should take 

 under present conditions. The Khedive, they say, has gone over al- 

 together to the English, but has very little influence, the younger stu- 

 dents of the Azhar being now very nearly all Nationalists. What they 

 are afraid of now is lest the Government at Constantinople should sell 

 Egypt to England. On this point I reassured them. I advised them 

 to keep on the best possible terms with the Copts and the European 

 Colonies, so as to conciliate as far as possible the European Powers, 

 and very especially not to quarrel with Constantinople, Egypt's con- 

 nection with the Ottoman Empire being its real safe-guard against 

 England. We discussed the formation of a secret society on the lines 

 of the Turkish Committee of Union and Progress. One of them has 

 a plan of throwing up his career at Oxford without waiting for a de- 

 gree, and of going to Constantinople or the United States or Germany 

 to get a military training. He says the Egyptian army is rapidly be- 

 coming Nationalist, and they have received assurances that it would 

 join them in case of disturbances. It would not fire on the people, 

 but officers would be wanted when the time came to take the place of 

 the present English officers. He is fired with the ambition of playing 



