<^«^<^<^t«^t^<^t^C<^<^^^ AMANULLAH and Alexandria over Christmas and the New Year. And it was at some time during their first meetings, by some gesture or action, that King Fuad or one of his underlings bitterly offended his sensitive guest. Aman- ullah was annoyed. For public consumption, it was stated that the King was somewhat vague in his arrangements. Certainly he was difficult to entertain. He was unwilling to arrange for his participation in any programme many hours ahead, and even when he did, it could not be certain that he would adhere to his plans. That was the story issued to account for the shortening of the programme arranged for him, and for his tardiness on many public occasions* As one writer described, hinting at the truth : u The visit has been a success in spite of the difficulty of arranging for a guest who has always done what he likes and when he likes. It is only with difficulty that he can be persuaded to make up his mind. He is always late, and invariably wants to alter his orders at the last moment." We have seen enough of Amanullah's character, however, to know that he seldom changed his mind. Having decided on a course of action, he stuck to it right or wrong. These delays, these minor diffi- culties, were not inevitable. And the climax came when King Fuad waited, and the whole Egyptian military review waited, half an hour for the presence of the chief guest. Obviously, though without giving any definite cause for a breach, Amanullah had shown that he was not flattered by the hospitality of the Egyptians* The extensive programme for a tour of Egypt was cancelled* In its place Amanullah consented to visit Luxor, and met Lord Lloyd—a man whom he must have respected and liked, for there was a lot in common between, the two strong men, neither of whom could 102