The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 heightened British interest in Egypt. Because the canal shortened considerably the existing British lines of communication with India and the East, the security of this route thereafter became of paramount concern to the British Government. In 1882 a rebellion of the Egyptian A~ threatened not only British interests in Egypt but also the security of the canal. As a result, in September of that year. a British force It. was sent to Egypt to put down the rebellion. Thus began the British occupation of Egypt. Although not intended to be permanent. the occupation. nevertheless, was to last well beyond thepperiod under consideration. The almost oontinuous threat to Egypt and the canal after 1882 f~~ Britain, although reluctantly, to extend the period of the military occupation. The occupation of Egypt had far-reaching consequences on British foreign policy, on Military and naval policy and on Imperial defence planning. In fact, throughout most of the period from 1882 until 1914, the defence of Egypt was one of the principal concerns of the defence planners. The need to defend Egypt and the canal against attack had a pronounced effect on naval policy. On one oaeasion it actually brought about a significant change in the direction of that policy. A study of British military policy and the defence of Egypt in this period must, therefore, of necessity, take into consideration the interrelationship between policy at home and planning in Egypt. It must also deal with the personalities involved in policy-making and planning. For these reasons this study on military policy in Egypt reveals a number of important features of British defence policy and planning in the period before the First World War.