The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abbas Pasha II, Hilmi

ABBAS PASHA II, Hilmi, hēl′mē, third Khedive of Egypt: b. 14 July 1874, the eldest son of the Khedive Mehemed Tewfik, better known as Tewfik Pasha, was educated with his brother at the Theresianum in Vienna. Abbas Hilmi was declared to be officially of age in 1891, and on the death of his father (7 Jan. 1892) was proclaimed Khedive of Egypt in accordance with the Sultan's firman of 8 June 1873, by which the succession was to fall from father to son instead of from brother to brother. Despite the British occupation of Egypt since 1882, that country was – as least nominally – under Turkish suzerainty down to December 1914. The activities of Abbas Hilmi as a ruler were limited to following the advice of Lord Cromer, Sir Eldon Gorst, and, later, of Lord Kitchener, successively British Consuls-General in Egypt. At the outbreak of the European War (1914) the Khedive was in Constantinople, the guest of the Sultan, and was credited with devoting his energies to plotting against the British rule in his country. Great Britain declared war on Turkey (5 November) in consequence of hostile acts committed by Turkish troops. On 18 December the British Foreign Office issued a statement to the effect that in view of the state of was arising out of the action of Turkey, “Egypt is placed under the protection of His Majesty and will henceforth constitute a Protectorate. The suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt is thus terminated and His Majesty's Government will adopt all measures necessary for the defense of Egypt and the protections of its inhabitants and interests.” A further announcement next day referred to Abbas Hilmi, “lately Khedive of Egypt,” who had adhered to the King's enemies, and stated that he had been deposed. The title of Khedive was abolished for that of Sultan and conferred on the eldest living descendant of the family of Mehemet Ali, Prince Hussein Kamel Pasha who died 5 Oct. 1917 and was succeeded by Princed Ahmed Fuàd. Consult Cromer, Earl of, ‘Abbas II’ (London 1915).