Although John Barker, the British Consul-General during the Syrian campaign, “was always opposed” to the Pasha's policy towards the Sultan, the “British Cabinet did not declare its policy, and Mr. Barker did not receive from home any instructions favorable to Meh'med Ali's projects.” Mehmed Ali knew that the messages he was receiving from Barker were the Consul's own personal opinions and Palmerston, the British Foreign Secretary, who was later adamant in upholding the principle of preserving the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, was completely silent on the issue of his struggle with the Sultan.

Builds on: "Egyptian context explains the gap between plan and execution."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 182