File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎30r] (59/178)

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Alexandria naturally cause alarm. In the future they might become impossible and the
disposition of troops would be arranged accordingly.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. requested that Lord Curzon would furnish the delegation with a short
note embodying his views upon this question, and Lord Curzon promised to do so.
Adly added that it was most important from the point of view of Egyptian
sentiment that anything on this subject should be as precise and definite as possible.
Lord Curzon said that he was willing to discuss the matter further, but that he
should say at once that the suggestion that troops should be confined to the Canal zone
was one that could not be entertained.
Adly said that in Egypt it was still believed that British forces w T ere really needed
to guard interior communicati ms, and that if it was thought necessary to guard
aerodromes this would involve the presence of troops at Cairo and Alexandria, where
the two chief aerodromes were situated.
Lord Curzon said that the aerodromes must be guarded.
Adly suggested that new ones should be built.
Lord Curzon said that this seemed unnecessary as they had two excellent ones
already, and that in matters of this kind expediency, not sentiment, must be the
main consideration. Similarly, troops must be placed where there were barracks.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. suggested that they should not be to too great an extent the slaves
of what exists, and that the sentiments of the people must be taken into consideration.
He enquired whether military arrangements could not be considered as of a temporary
nature.
Lord Curzon replied that he did not think so. It might be necessary now to place
troops where it would not be necessary to have them in the future, and it would no
doubt be possible to find some formula whereby revision of any arrangements could be
allowed for, but he. did not wish it to be thought that he contemplated the possibility
of the complete withdrawal of British troops from Egypt within any time limit.
Lord Curzon then referred to the question of the employment of foreign officials
other than British in Egypt. He was assured by both Adly and Bushdi that there
was no disposition in Egypt to replace British officials by other foreigners, and that no
party would propose to do so.
Adly said that he was willing to enter into an understanding on this point.
Lord Curzon said that the difficulty with regard to understandings was that they
did not bind subsequent Governments ; that this was a matter concerning which there
was considerable feeling in England, and that he would like to have some guarantee on
the subject inserted in the treaty.
Adly said that they were agreed in principle and that it might be inserted in a
protocol.
Lord Curzon said that he would prefer to have it in the treaty.
Finallv, Lord Curzon referred to the position of the High Commissioner, and
enquired whether they would desire to have an Egyptian High Commissioner in
London.
Adly said that the question of the title of the High Commissioner had been
frequently discussed with Lord Milner, and that Egyptians objected to the title as
associated with the protectorate.
Lord Curzon replied that it had always been assumed that he would be called the
High Commissioner, which was the proper title for such an official.
” It was arranged to hold another meeting on the following day at 4'15 p.m.
Dear Abdel Hamed Bey, Foreign Office, July 13, 1021.
I enclose a copy of the note on the British forces in Egypt which Lord Curzon
promised to send to the Egyptian official delegation during the conference to-day.
Yours very truly,
J. MURRAY.
His Excellency,
Abdel Hamed Bey,
Carlton Hotel,
Pull Mall, S.W. 1.
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