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Coll 15/3(1) 'Egypt. Abolition of Capitulations in Montreux Conference and Convention 1937' [‎337r] (678/1220)

The record is made up of 1 volume (606 folios). It was created in 31 Dec 1936-18 Apr 1939. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

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T^-i^o + inn made at the Montreux Ccnference by the representative
Pec.iaL^-±-..- of 5 " the Irish Free State.
Mr. Cremins (Irish Free State):
M. le president de la Confederation Helvetique,
Mr. president, Excellencies.
I have great pleasure in joining in the tributes which
have been paid to His Excellency, the president of the Sv/iss
Confederation, and in the expressions of gratitude to the
authorities of the town of Montreux, and of the Canton, for
the welcome and hospitality which they have extended to the
delegations.
I have also, on behalf of my Government, to offer
my most sincere congratulations uo the Egyptian delegation,
on the fruitful results for Egypt which the Conference has
achieved. My country is happy to have had the honour of
participating in a Conference for the achievement of results.
Although the, Irish Free State was not a party to any
of the treaties whereby the former regime of foreign capitulations
in Egypt was created, Irish citizens succeeded to certain
capitulatory rights by virtue of a number of treaties wni
applied to our nationals at a time when our country * orined -^ a
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Irish Free State has, however, never possessed,
in fact ever washed to assert a right to its own ^onsu
Egypt, and as one of the High Contracting Pax
Convention, the Irish Free State does not propose
Of any SU ch right, however limited, which the Convention may offer
to its citizens.
In

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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
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Coll 15/3(1) 'Egypt. Abolition of Capitulations in Montreux Conference and Convention 1937' [‎337r] (678/1220), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2764, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100062749765.0x00004f> [accessed 4 June 2026]

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