EGYPT 989 



Egyptian Arabs, the bonds of a common religion, and the ties of trade, evoked a deep 

 and widespread sympathy in Egypt for the Arabs of Tripoli. But, notwithstanding the 

 mischievous efforts of some of the native papers, the Egyptians maintained a praise- 

 worthy self restraint. Egypt was declared neutral, and that neutrality was strictly 

 maintained. The war led to definite steps being taken to settle the western maritime*- 

 frontier of Egypt. Italy had proclaimed a blockade of the Cyrenaican coast which 

 extended to 27 E., that is over 100 m. east of Sollum, the western limit claimed by 

 Egypt. The British government protesting, the Italian claim was waived (Nov. 1911). 

 In December a small Egyptian force occupied the fort of Sollum ; the handful of Turks in 

 the fort withdrawing. The British Foreign Office in an official communication (Dec. 

 20, 1911) stated that as long ago as November 1904 both the Turkish and Italian 

 governments had been notified that the line of the Egyptian western frontier ran up to 

 and included Sollum. Turkey, however, had not admitted the Egyptian claim. 



Lord Kitchener diligently sought to improve the lot of the peasantry, who form 

 three-fourths of the population and own one-fourth of the land. He sedulously en- 

 couraged improved conditions of agriculture and educational progress. By 

 Progress? repeated tours in the rural districts he made himself personally acquainted 

 with the needs of the people. He developed the Agricultural Department 

 established by Sir E. Gorst in 1910, extended the Savings Bank system to villages, made 

 usury (i.e. lending money at more than 9 p.c. interest) an offence punishable by fine and 

 imprisonment, and exempted small holdings (up to five Feddans) 1 from distraint for 

 debt. To save costly law suits local benches of magistrates (styled cantonal tribunals) 

 were instituted to decide summarily trivial cases. In this way Lord Kitchener earned 

 the title of " Friend of the Fellahin." The regard was mutual; " the fellah," wrote 

 Lord Kitchener in April 1912, " remains the same as he has always been, one of the best 

 and most hard-working types of humanity." He now set himself to teach the fellahin 

 that too much of a good thing might be detrimental. As a result of the immense irriga- 

 tion works carried out since the British occupation, reclamation of land was pushed 

 northward in the Delta into low-lying areas where there was no natural drainage, while 

 a middle zone had become salted and waterlogged. Thus arose the necessity for drain- 

 age works on a large scale. Undrained damp soil, coupled with indiscriminate destruc- 

 tion of bird life and the loss of a quarter of a million of cattle in seven years through 

 disease had led to an enormous increase in cotton pests. The cotton crops of 1908 and 

 1909 had been poor. There was a record crop in 1910 which realised .35,840,000 or 

 5,700,000 above the previous best. In 1911, however, the crop was again poor. 

 This instability, combined with the harmful system of mixing different varieties of cot- 

 ton, caused serious anxiety. During 1911 and 1912 special investigations were under- 

 taken to put the industry on a sounder basis. In November 1912 a cotton congress 

 was held in Cairo, representatives of master cotton spinners of every European country 

 and of Japan being present. The causes militating against Egyptian cotton were fully 

 considered. Lord Kitchener called attention to the new species of cotton being grown 

 in government experimental farms, and Mr. Dudgeon, director general of the Agricul- 

 tural department, outlined a scheme whereby in five years sufficient seed for producing 

 species approved by spinners could be obtained to supply the whole of Egypt. 



The experiment initiated by Sir Eldon Gorst in 1910 of handing over local education 

 to the provincial councils was continued, funds being provided by a percentage on the 

 land taxes, while the government granted E.ioo,ooo 2 for the building and equipment 

 of schools. The councils took up educational work with enthusiasm. 



Several ministerial changes took place in 1912. On April ist Saad Pasha Zagloud, 

 the minister of Justice and one of the few men of pure Egyptian origin who had attained 

 cabinet rank, resigned; on the isth of the same month Sir Joseph Saba also resigned. 

 Yusef Wahba, a Copt, and councillor to the mixed court of appeal at Alexandria, was 

 made minister of Foreign Affairs, Hussein Pasha Ruchdi being transferred from the 

 Foreign Office to the finance ministry. 



1 A feddan equals 1.03 acres. 2 A E.i.o.o equals 1.0.6. 



