276 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE when the deposition of the Khedive by the army seemed likely to become an accomplished fact, that France suggested the despatch of an Anglo-French squadron to Alexandria, and that England reluctantly adopted the suggestion.

Immediately on the arrival of the squadron, the English and French Consuls-General sent a joint note to the Ministry, calling on them to resign office, insisting on Arabi quitting Egypt, and demanding that his military colleagues should retire from Cairo and Alexandria into the provinces. On the day following I the receipt of this note, the Ministry resigned, and I announced that the cause of their resignation was / that the Khedive, by approving the above note, which had been submitted to his Highness by the Consuls-General, had re-established foreign intervention in the affairs of Egypt. On this announcement being made, \ the officers of the regiments stationed in Alexandria \ met in secret and declared that they would not allow , ! Arabi to resign, and that unless he was reinstated in : i office during the course of the day, they could not \ I guarantee the maintenance of public order. This \ declaration was telegraphed direct to the Khedive \; at Cairo, and at first the Khedive resolved to \ follow the advice of the English and French Conij suls- General, who urged him not to give way.

Later on, however, on the same day, a local deputation, containing a considerable number of Notables, presented themselves at the palace, and implored the \ Khedive to yield, as otherwise their own lives