In 1936 a treaty between Britain and Egypt was signed which became known as the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936.
The full name of the treaty was The Treaty of Alliance Between His Majesty, in Respect of the United Kingdom, and His Majesty the King of Egypt, but for obvious reasons that name was seldom used.
The pretext for the treaty was the Second Italo-Abyssinian War that started in 1935. King Farouk feared that the Italians would also invade Egypt. The treaty required Britain to withdraw all troops from Egypt except those necessary to protect the Suez Canal and its surroundings, 10,000 troops plus auxiliary personnel. Britain would also supply and train Egypt's army and assist in its defense in case of war. The treaty was signed on August 26 and ratified December 22 and was to last for 20 years.
The treaty wasn't welcomed by nationalists like the Muslim Brotherhood who craved for full independence for Egypt. It ignited a wave of anti-British and anti-Wafdist demonstrations. Neither did the treaty resolve the question of Sudan. The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium Agreement of 1899 stated that Sudan should be jointly governed by Egypt and Britain. Despite that agreement, real power was in Britain's hands and the 1936 treaty expressively favoured maintaining the status quo.
The new Wafd government unilaterally abrogated the treaty in 1951. Three years later Britain agreed to withdraw their troops which was finalized in July 1956.
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Last updated: 08-23-2005 22:17:58
