Premier Hilary Pasha's deadline was May 18. Unless Hilaly, who is able but has no following, could in the meantime win public support, the powerful and corrupt Wafd opposition was sure to win the general election. Hilaly needed to score a diplomatic success with the British. Last week the British were not helpful.
They were willing to evacuate the Suez Canal Zone if Egypt would join a Middle East Command. But they refused to turn over to the Egyptians the Sudan, which Egypt now claims. Quite the opposite: fortnight ago Britain announced plans to hasten self-rule for the Sudanese. It was...