The Struggle for Independence 135
the Peace Conference; but Ms intransigence and rigid inability to
compromise made a poor impression there, and his case was
weakened by the fact that President Wilson had given his recog-
nition to the British Protectorate. The British Government set up,
under the chairmanship of the Colonial Secretary Lord JVtilner, a
commission "to enquire into the form of government which,
under the Protectorate, will be best calculated to promote peace and
prosperity, the progressive development of self-governing institu-
tions, and the protection of foreign interests'. In the same docu-
ment British policy was defined as seeking 'to defend Egypt against
all external danger and the interference of a foreign power, and to
establish constitutional government, under British guidance as far
as may be necessary, so that the Sultan.1 and his ministers and the
elected representatives of the people may in their several spheres
and in an increasing degree co-operate in the management of
Egyptian affairs'. The Mission was met by a complete boycott;
their residence was picketed by the Wafdists (as the followers of
Zaghlulnow called themselves), and any Egyptian who ventured
to call upon them was pursued by menaces. On the return of the
Mission to London Milner continued negotiations with the
Egyptian Prime Minister and with Zaghlul, and finally in
August 1920 produced a memorandum proposing a definite
settlement provided that Zaghlul would urge its acceptance
upon his followers. It recommended 'a treaty of alliance
under which Britain will recognize the independence of Egypt
as a constitutional monarchy with representative institutions,
and Egypt will confer upon Britain the rights necessary to
safeguard her special interests and to enable her to give foreign
Powers guarantees which will secure the relinquishment of
capitulatory rights. Britain will defend the integrity of Egyptian
territory, and Egypt will in case of war render Britain all assistance
in her power within her own borders. Egypt will not adopt an
attitude inconsistent with the alliance, or enter into any agreement
with a foreign power prejudicial to British interests. Egypt will
confer on Britain the right to maintain a military force on Egyptian
soil for the maintenance of her imperial communications----Egypt
will recognize the right of Britain to intervene, should legislation
operate inequitably against foreigners. The British representative
1 The Khedive had been made to adopt this title in 1914 when Ottoman
suzerainty was renounced with the Turkish entry into the War.
K,