File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎32v] (64/178)

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wherein an Egyptian representative in close touch with the Government, say, at Berlin,
and another Egyptian representative working with the Government at Constantinople,
under somebody of the type of Mustapha Kemal, might create .considerable difficulties
with Great Britain. Intrigue was not so easy when it was necessary to conduct it
clandestinely in cafes.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that, once an agreement was arrived at, whatever the Egyptian
Government did, they would not risk losing the support of Great Britain. Should they
fail to respect the terms of the agreement, it would always be open to Great Britain to
denounce it. Great Britain was the stronger.
Lord Curzon said that his one object was to remove all chance of such collision.
Bushdi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that if they had an agreement it would be to their interest to
maintain it. Why should they prefer the German, or any other Power, to the English ?
England was the aliy most plainly indicated for Egypt. If the Turks or Germans had
succeeded in getting into Egypt, he himself would have been the first to suffer.
Lord Curzon said that the Pashas had described the present situation accurately,
but that he was looking to the future. He had seen so m »ny changes in public life
that he considered it necessary in dealing with a matter of this kind to envisage every
possibility. It was not necessary to discuss the matter further at the present time.
He would in due course, however, communicate the views of the delegation, which had
been expressed very eloquently and moderately, to the Cabinet.
He would propose to insert in the treaty a clause to ensure that the High
Commissioner in Cairo should be kept closely in touch with the Foreign Office. He
thought that it would be easy to find a form of words for this which would not hurt the
amour-propre of Egypt. He had been surprised yesterday that they objected to the
title of “ High Commissioner,” which he proposed should be the title both of the British
representative in Egypt and of the Egyptian representative in Great Britain. He had
hoped that they would consider this proposal flattering.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said it was too flattering, and did not save the situation. He had to
think of the sentiments of his country, and that he could not agree that, from the
British point of view, the title was sufficiently important to risk creating opposition in
Egypt.
Lord Curzon did not agree. In any arrangement that was come to, England must
undoubtedly occupy a position in Egypt entirely different from that of any other Power.
He saw no use in attempting to get rid of this title. If he asked His Majesty’s
Government to do so, they would probably reject the whole agreement.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. enquired what would be the position of the Egyptian High Commis
sioner in England in the Corps diplomatique.
Lord Curzon said that this could easily be arranged.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. objected that the title “ High Commissioner ” had been created
together with the protectorate.
Lord Curzon replied that it did not in any way connote the protectorate, that
since the war Great Britain had had many High Commissioners in many places
throughout Europe. If the delegation could suggest an alternative title he would be
glad to consider it.
Adly Pusha mentioned the title of “ Ambassador.”
Lord Curzon did not think that would meet the case.
[Interval for tea.]
Besuming the discussion, Lord Curzon suggested that they should pass on to the
question of the position to be occupied by the British officials whom it might be
desirable to appoint to work in connection with various Government Departments in
Egypt. Lord Milner had proposed the appointment, in concurrence with His Majesty’s
Government, of a Financial Adviser (Lord Curzon read the text of Lord Milner’s proposal).
When the British Cabinet discussed this proposal, it was thought that the concluding
words left the Financial Adviser in an unsatisfactory position. He might or might
not be consulted. Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , in the reserves he read yesterday, had expressed a wish
to omit all reference to the consultative capacity of that official. The general view of
the Cabinet was that there was no desire to interfere unduly with internal administration,
for which the main responsibility would have to lie with the Egyptian Government.
On some points, however, His Majesty’s Government felt strongly, and one of them was
the retention of the powers now enjoyed by the Commissioners of the Debt. In future
the Financial Adviser must be in a position to exercise these powers. It was no good
having a Financial Adviser if he was not to be consulted, when he would become merely