File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎36v] (72/178)

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Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that they were called diplomatic agents and eonsuls-general.
They were also reierred to as Ministers.
Lord Curzon said that he was not prepared to waste more time on discussing
titles.
Rushdi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that the vital point was whether or no the Egyptians should
have diplomatic representatives abroad.
Lord Curzon enquired whether they wished to argue the point further.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that he personally was convinced that in Egyptian interests
there wns a real need for diplomatic representation. Consuls could not deal direct
with foreign Governments ; they were in reality only commercial agents supplying
their own Government with information. When Egypt had to deal with foreign
representatives at Cairo the latter never put the Egyptian side of the case properly to
their Governments.
Lord Curzon then said that, assuming for a moment that Egypt had the right to
have diplomatic representatives abroad, he would like to know where they would
propose to station them.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that they would be stationed where Egyptian interests required.
He could only give a rough idea. He would say off-hand Paris, Rome, Athens, and
possibly seme of the succession States of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with which
Egypt had important commercial relations.
Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. interjected that it was the commercial interest which really counted.
Lord Curzon enquired how they used to deal with America, for instance, in the
old days.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that they dealt with the American Minister at Cairo, and
consequently it was his opinion, and not that of the Egyptian Government, which
carried weight at \\ ashington.
Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. added that the United States w r ere imposing heavy taxation on
Egyptian cotton, very possibly against their own interests, but Egypt had no one who
could really state the Egyptian case fairly at Washington.
Lord Curzon said that he appreciated the point which they had made, and he
would now like to s<-e if there was any other subject requiring discussion. He said
that he thought he understood their case fairly thoroughly, and he enquired whether
they were prepared to give their views on the JudiciaJ and Financial Commissioners.
Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that he was prepared to discuss the latter official. In the
memorandum which Lord Curzon had sent the delegation the new functions of the
Financial Commissioner were mentioned, though there was no talk of them in the
Milner memorandum, under which the Financial Commissioner was merely to replace
the Commissioners of the Debt, and was to be at the disposal of the Egyptian
Government for general advice. In the reserves with regard to this subject which
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had communicated to Lord Curzon at the beginning of the negotiations,
they had suggested that the mention of the right of the'Egyptian Government to consult
the Financial Commissioner was unnecessary because, being an official of the Egyptian
Government, and paid by them, his services would naturally be at their disposal. To
mention this consultative capacity, as had been suggested, had aroused a fear that
the past powers of the Financial Adviser were to be retained by the Financial
Commissioner.
Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. thought that at the last meeting Lord Curzon had spoken of the
confidence which Europeans would feel as a result of there being a Financial
Commissioner, and that this confidence would arise from his close connection with the
Government and the special functions which he was to fulfil. He then quoted the
functions as stated in the memorandum communicated to the delegation.
Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , speaking generally of the proposed control over Egyptian finance,
said that Egyptians would be bound to repudiate it, as they hold that the Commissioners
of the Debt exercised all the control necessary.
The present condition of the country did not warrant increased control; there
was no antagonism between Egvptian and European interests, and there was no danger
that the work already accomplished in Egypt would be imperilled.
hinancial control was first established in 1876. At that moment the external
debt was the same as it is to-day, though the budget amounted only to 4,00O,00OZ.
annually, and Egypt had to pay 80 per cent, of her revenue in interest to the
bondholders and in the Turkish tribute. Now she only paid 10 per cent, of her
revenue in this fashion, and Egyptian Government debt is held in Egypt-to the extent
of 35,000,0001. So much for the public revenue. The private revenue now amounts
to over 200,O0O,000Z. annually.