ABSTRACT
The signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in August 1936 was regarded by most Egyptians and foreigners as the final step toward Egypt's political independence. Representatives of all the Egyptian parties, except the Nationalists, signed the document. The Egyptian government was free to open embassies and consulates in other countries and to make its own domestic and foreign policies. During the war, some British officials urged the Arabs to build political unity on this economic integration. Britain's policy was to focus Egypt's concern on regional economic affairs, in order to weaken agitation against its efforts to promote Sudanese independence from Egypt. Embittered young Egyptians were losing faith in parliamentary democracy and the prewar political parties and were turning to militant, antidemocratic movements. King Faruq met with the representatives of the other Arab governments at Inshas Palace and agreed to commit Egypt's forces to war against any plan to partition Palestine and to create a Jewish state there.
