1908 and were received by Sir Edward Grey, who gave them
assurances that Great Britain would always strive to remedy the
legitimate grievances of Egyptians.

The establishment of constitutional rule in Turkey in the summer of 1908
excited the hopes of the Egyptian Nationalists, and a deputation was
sent to Constantinople to confer with the Young Turk committee. From the
Young Turks, however, the deputation received no encouragement for their
agitation and returned with the advice to work in co-operation with the
British. In view of the rumours current, Sir Eldon Gorst, in the form of
an interview in _El Mokattam_, a widely read native paper, restated
(October 1908) the British view as to the occupation of the country and
the demand for a parliament. Great Britain, he declared, had no
intention of proclaiming a protectorate over Egypt; on the other hand,
recent events in Turkey in no way affected the question of
self-government in Egypt. It would be folly to think of introducing
unrestricted parliamentary government at present, the conditions for its
successful working not existing. The "wild and foolish" agitation on
this question only served to confirm the impression that the Egyptians
were not yet fit to govern themselves. At the same time steps were being
taken to give them a much greater part in the management of local
affairs. If the Egyptians showed that the existing institutions and the
new provincial councils could do useful work, it would prove the best
argument for extending their powers. Sir Eldon Gorst's statements were
approved by the British government.

In November 1908 Mustafa Fehmi, who had been premier since 1895,
resigned, and was succeeded by Boutros Pasha, a Copt of marked ability,
who had been for several years foreign minister. Boutros incurred the
enmity of the "Nationalists" and was murdered in February 1910.
(D. M. W.; F. R. C.)

AUTHORITIES.--D. A. Cameron, _Egypt in the Nineteenth Century_
(London, 1898), a clear and useful summary of events up to 1882; E.
Dicey, _The Story of the Khedivate_ (London, 1902); J. C. McCoan,
_Egypt under Ismail_ (London, 1899); P. Mouriez, _Histoire de
Mehemet-Ali_ (4 vols., Paris, 1855-1858); L. Brehier, _L'Egypte de
1789 a 1900_ (Paris, 1901); C. de Freycinet, _La Question d'Egypte_
(Paris, 1905). See also MEHEMET ALI.

For the period immediately preceding and during the British occupation
the standard authority is Lord Cromer's _Mode