The British Defence of Egypt 1935-1940

Steven Morewood is a lecturer in international history in the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham.

Morewood offers a comprehensive and challenging analysis of the British defence of Egypt, primarily against fascist Italy, in the critical lead-up period to the Second World War.

Acknowledgements Preface Erik Goldstein 1. Introduction: Defending Egypt in the Era of Appeasement The Lingering Strategic Significance of Egypt: The appeasement debate and egypt 2. The Nature of the Italian Threat to Egypt : Sir Miles Lampson and the Security of Egypt: The Decision - Making Process. I The Defence of Egypt in the Interwar Period: Strategic Imperatives and Rationale No Surrender - The Role of Egypt in Imperial Defence. II The Defence of Egypt and the Onset of the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency The Emergence of the Italian Threat - The Origins of the Italo-Abyssinian Crisis: the Egyptian Dimension - The British Response to the Growing Abyssinian Crisis - The Position in Egypt - Countdown to War. III Defending Egypt during the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency: First Phase, August - December 1935 Policy Imperatives and Dilemmas - Preparations for War - A Clash of Attitudes: The Men on the Spot and the Chiefs of Staff - The Imperial Defence Dimension and the Hoare-Laval Pact. IV Defending Egypt during the Italo-Abyssinian Emergency: Second Phase, January - July 1936 The Capacity to Defend the Egyptian Power Base - Too Far Too Fast - An Oil Embargo: So near and yet so far - The Suez Canal Closure Issue - The End of the Emergency. V The Making of the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: The Military Aspects Early Efforts to Conclude a Treaty, 1924-1930 - Commencing Negotiations - The Negotiations: First Phase - The Negotiations: Middle Phase - The Negotiations: Final Phase - An Assessment. VI Securing an Exposed Flank: The Defence of Egypt through Diplomacy, June 1936-April 1938 The Debate over the Way Forward - Defence Planning Priorities and Egypt - Assessing the Italian Threat - From Eden's Resignation to the Easter Pact. VII 'Bloodless War' Prelude to the Munich Agreement - The Mediterranean Dimension of the Munich Crisis - The Aftermath - Bloodless War Begins - Preparing for War - Improving the Intelligence Picture. VIII The Approach of War in the Mediterranean A Summer of Tension - Anglo-French Incongruity - Preparing for Battle - War Comes Closer - The Onset of War. IX Implementing the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance: Anglo-Egyptian Relations, 1937-1940 Implementing the Treaty: Immediate Achievements and Complications - A Changed Leadership - Munich and After - The Power Struggle in Egypt - The Lead Up to War in Europe - Egypt Stays Out - The Lead Up to War in the Mediterranean - The Removal of Ali Maher. X The Suez Canal and the Defence of the Far East, 1919-1941 The Origins of the Suez Canal Defence Plan - The Suez Canal Defence Plan - The Suez Canal Defence Plan and Interwar Crises 1937-1939 - The Advent of War in the Mediterranean - The Canal at War - Italo - German - Japanese Motives for Closing Suez. XII Conclusion Bibliography Index