Editing July Monarchy (section)

==== Middle Eastern affairs, a pretext for {{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}}'s fall ====
{{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}} supported [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali Pasha]], the Wali of Egypt, in his ambition to constitute a vast Arabian Empire from Egypt to Syria. He tried to intercede in order to have him sign an agreement with the [[Ottoman Empire]], unbeknownst to the four other European powers (Britain, Austria, [[Prussia]] and [[Russian Empire|Russia]]). However, informed of these negotiations, the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, [[Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]], quickly negotiated a treaty between the four powers to sort out the "Eastern Question". When revealed, the [[Convention of London (1840)|London Convention]] of 15 July 1840 provoked an explosion of patriotic fury: France had been ousted from a zone where it traditionally exercised its influence (or attempted to), while Prussia, which had no interest in it, was associated with the treaty. Although {{lang|fr|Louis-Philippe|italic=no}} pretended to join the general protestations, he knew that he could take advantage of the situation to get rid of {{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}}.

The latter pandered to patriotic feelings by decreeing, on 29 July 1840, a partial mobilization, and by starting, on 13 September 1840, the works on the [[Fortifications of Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries|fortifications of Paris]]. But France remained passive when, on 2 October 1840, the [[Royal Navy]] mobilized along the Lebanese coastline. Mehemet Ali was then immediately dismissed as wali by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Sultan [[Abdulmejid I]].

Following long negotiations between the king and {{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}}, a compromise was found on 7 October 1840: France would renounce its support for Muhammad Ali's pretensions in Syria but would declare to the European powers that Egypt should remain at all costs autonomous. Britain thereafter recognized Muhammad Ali's hereditary rule in Egypt: France had obtained a return to the situation of 1832. Despite this, the rupture between {{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}} and {{lang|fr|Louis-Philippe|italic=no}} was now definitive. On 29 October 1840, when {{lang|fr|[[Charles de Rémusat]]|italic=no}} presented to the Council of Ministers the draft of the speech of the throne, prepared by {{lang|fr|[[Hippolyte Passy]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|fr|Louis-Philippe|italic=no}} found it too aggressive. After a short discussion, {{lang|fr|Thiers|italic=no}} and his associates collectively presented their resignations to the king, who accepted them. On the following day, {{lang|fr|Louis-Philippe|italic=no}} sent for Marshal {{lang|fr|Soult|italic=no|nocat=y}} and {{lang|fr|Guizot|italic=no}} so they could return to Paris as soon as possible.