File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎40r] (79/178)

Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. enquired whether this difficulty could not be got round.
Lord Curzon enquired the present state of the negotiations with the Capitulatory
Powers.
Mr. Murray explained that conventions had already been concluded with five
Powers. Negotiations with Belgium and Holland were far advanced, and agreement
as to the text of the convention had, indeed, been reached. Negotiations with the
United States had not made much progress. With regard to France and Spain,
either side, but not both, would probably be willing to sign the convention if we were
prepared to accede to their wishes in the matter of Tangier. In consequence, it might
be said that negotiations with these two Powers had not really been initiated.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. then said that there was another question connected with these
conventions. It would be necessary finally to promulgate Egyptian laws in order to
put the conventions in force, and the draft laws which, he understood, it was proposed
to put forward had never yet been discussed with the Egyptian Government.
Mr. Lindsay explained that the former Egyptian Government had refused to
discuss it on the ground that it was of a political nature, and that they were a Govern
ment only of affairs.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. continued to say that the delegation would have many observations
to make with regard to the draft laws, and they hoped they would have an opportunity
to discuss them.
Lord Curzon pointed out that, at the bottom of p. 38 of the Milner Mission’s
Report, the reasons were given why the conventions must be concluded before the
treaty of alliance could become effective. It was not necessary for him to rend this out
or to go over all the ground airain, as the whole matter had been thrashed out and the
arguments plainly stated by Lord Milner.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that he had perhaps failed, to make his meaning clear. The
conventions in question were based on certain draft laws. The Egyptian Government
had never had an opportunity of discussing these laws.
Lord Curzon replied that he was not acquainted with the draft laws in question,
but that Adly Pasha’s first point had been the suggestion that the treaty of alliance
should come into force independently of the conclusion of the conventions with the
Capitulatory Powers. It was useless for him to repeat Lord Milner’s arguments on this
point, but it appeared to him that Lofd Milner had met very fully the delegation’s
point of principle
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. demurred, and Lord Curzon then said that the substance of the
argument was contained in one sentence, which he read out: “ It was evident to us that
without the removal of these restrictions no Egyptian Government could enjoy any
real independence.”
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that they agreed generally, but none the less they did not wish
the negotiation of these conventions to be an obstacle to the coming into force of their
political treaty.
Lord Curzon said that His Majesty’s Government had no wish to delay the coming
into force of the political treaty, but they had many difficulties to face, and found it
hard to come to terms with the French, who attempted to drag extraneous questions
into the negotiations.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. repeated that the conventions would have the effect of setting up a
new regime. In order to set up this regime, it would be necessary for the Egyptian
Government to promulgate certain laws; therefore they desired to examine and discuss
the laws in question with representatives of His Majesty’s Government.
Lord Curzon said that this must be gone into, and he would suggest that
Mr. Lindsay and the other experts should deal with it and, if possible, clear the ground.
He asked whether there were any further points which the delegation desired to raise.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that he thought that all the other points in their reserves had
already been discussed.
Lord Curzon then said that they had finished their task for to-day.
Lord Curzon and the experts would thrash out the question ot the Judicature
Laws and the abolition of the Capitulations, and make such progress as might be
possible before the next meeting, over which he himself would preside. At that
meeting he trusted that the delegation would biing up the formulae which they
proposed, and at the same time he would be glad to hear their views on the Soudan.
(The conference then adjoin ned at 5*30 p.m.)