File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎39r] (77/178)

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A'lly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. then undertook to furnish a formula, both with regard to this matter
and with regard to others, such as the retention of troops in Egypt.
Lord Curzon said that he understood that the delegation agreed to the Financial
Commissioner exercising the powers of the Commission of the Debt, but they did not
wish him to exercise any other power.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. agreed that this was in effect their view.
Lord Curzon said that Lord Milner proposed to give the F inancial Commissioner the
power of acquiring knowledge and of being useful. The delegation had objected to
this and he himself had attempted to fino another way out of the difficulty, to which they
had also objected. He would ask them to submit their views in writing for the next
meeting.
Lord Curzon next dealt with the question of the title of “High Commissioner.’"
He had suggested that the Egyptian and British representatives in the two countries
should each have the title of “ High Commissioner.” The delegation objected to this
and he understood they would try to find some other title. He would now like to hear
what they had to suggest.
Lushdi I asha replied that their suggestion was that the British representative in
Cairo should have the title of “ Ambassador," while representatives of all other
countries should be “ Ministers,” and that the Flgyptian representative in London
should have the title of “ Minister.”
Lord Curzon enquired whether there was any precedent for such an arrangement
in other countries.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. referred to the case of Switzerland, where France had an Ambassador,
whilst there was a Swiss Minister at Paris.
Lord Curzon said he would look into the question, and took note of their proposal.
He next turned to the question of the Judicial Commissioner, and referred to his
proposals with regard to the functions to be performed by this official, which, he said,
were analogous to those of the Financial Commissioner, namely, that he should be
appointed in the same way, that he should watch over the administration of law, as
affecting foreigners, and that he should have similar powers of access, not only to the
Minister of Justice, but also to the Minister of the Interior.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that in his reserve he had asked for the suppression of this official.
Lord Curzon enquired whether he had suggested that the official should not exist
at all.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that that was his suggestion. They did not consider that
this official would fulfil any useful purpose. They had always understood that, as
suggested in the Milner memorandum, the High Commissioner would have a power of
veto over legislation which affected foreigners.
Lord Curzon enquired why it was in that case that the Judicial Commissioner
should have figured at all in Lord Milner’s memorandum.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that the question had been discussed at great length with
Lord Milner, and that the Egyptians had always maintained that sufficient guarantees
would be given to foreigners by the fact that the High Commissioner would retain a
right of veto, and that such other safeguards as were necessary could be afforded by
the existence of a British “ procureur general.”
Lord Curzon enquired what exactly were the functions of the “ procureur general.”
Mr. Murray said that, with the Mixed Courts as at present constituted, the
“ procureur general ” was largely occupied in supervising and controlling the subordinate
staff, dealing with such matters as the promotion and discipline of clerks, huissiers, &c.
The criminal jurisdiction of the Mixed Courts was really limited to cases of fradulent
bankruptcy, which were very rare, so that in this respect the “ procureur general” had
realiy very little to do. Another factor which rendered him unsuitable for general
supervision of the administration of law as affecting foreigners was due to the fact that
his residence was at Alexandria, where the Mixed Court of Appeal was situated, and
consequently he was out of touch with the seat of Government.
It, however, the Mixed Courts were reorganised as the result of the conclusion c
conventions with the capitulatory Powers and the promulgation of the necessar
Egyptian legislation, the powers of the “ procureur general” would become very mucl
wider, and it might be a matter for consideration whether he could exercise sufficien
control so as to safeguard foreign interests. Lord Milner had always contemplatec
that the “procureur general” under the new regime would be an Englishman, bu
Mr. Murray believed he was right in saying that up tp the present time the office ha(
never been held by an Englishman, and was at the present moment held by a Belgian
Indeed, with the Mixed Courts as they were at present, it was doubtful whether ai
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