Coll 15/3(1) 'Egypt. Abolition of Capitulations in Montreux Conference and Convention 1937'

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, letters, correspondence, memoranda, notes and Parliamentary questions relating to the 1937 Montreux Conference on the abolition of capitulations in Egypt. These capitulations had created extra-territorial jurisdiction for many foreign powers in Egypt, including Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. This negotiation of the revision of the capitulations was one of the provisions of the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty.

The correspondence in the volume relates mainly to British interests and negotiating issues as well as the difference between British subjects, British protected persons and citizens; errors in some of the drafting and how these mistakes should be rectified, and the process of ratification of the convention by all parties concerned including the Egyptian Government and the governments of the Dominions.

Included in the volume are the following documents:

• a printed copy of the 'Statutory Rules and Orders, 1937 No. 936 FOREIGN JURISDICTION The Egypt Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , 1937' (ff 116-139)
• a printed report (ff 295-312) to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Antony Eden, on the proceedings of the Montreux Conference for the abolition of Capitulations in Egypt
• 'Egypt No. 1 (1936) Treaty of Alliance between His Majesty, in respect of the United Kingdom and his Majesty the King of Egypt ... Convention concerning the Immunities and Privleges to be enjoyed by the British Forces in Egypt, London, August 26, 1936' (Cmd. 5270) (ff 574-589)
• 'Instruments signed at Montreux on May 8th, 1937' and 'Report on the Convention regarding the abolition of capitulations ...' (in French and English) (ff 363-435)
• a printed memorandum 'Procedure for Giving Effect to Capitulations: Provisions of Anglo-Egyptian Treaty' (ff 590-601)

The volume features the following principal correspondents: the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Anthony Eden); HM High Commissioner to Egypt and Sudan (Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson); the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Dominions Office; Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Dominions Office; President of the Council of Ministers, Cairo (Mustapha El-Nahas).

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 volume (606 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 608; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/12/2764

Former external reference(s)

Coll 15/3/1

History of this record

Date(s)

31 Dec 1936-18 Apr 1939 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Anglo-Egyptian Treaty (1936)Legal systemsJurisdiction

Places

Egypt

People & organisations

Prime MinisterSecretary of State for India and Burma, United KingdomSecretary of State for Foreign AffairsSecretary of State for Dominion AffairsHM Ambassador to Egypt

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Coll 15/3(1) 'Egypt. Abolition of Capitulations in Montreux Conference and Convention 1937', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2764, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/9677> [accessed 4 June 2026]

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