File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎50r] (99/178)

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and most frequently led to the fall of Governments. Lord Curzon said that he migfit
have been advised to leave the Egyptian Governments in the future to make financial
mistakes and see the consequences, and then to realise when it was too late how they
might have been assisted by the guidance of a Financial Commissioner. Such a line of
action on his part, however, would not have been statesmanship. He was seeking to
prevent mistakes before the damage had been done.
He wished to assure Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that he was imputing nothing to Sidky s
countrymen, which he did not impute equally to his own. For centuries this country
had been devising financial checks. Lord Curzon did not ask for a reply to what he
had said, but hoped that the delegation would think it over, and he considered it
necessary to make some answer to the statement with which they had furnished him.
He next turned to the question of the Judicial Commissioner. Ihe delegation in
their statement had again made the point that it would be quite sufficient to have a
procureur general invested with certain powers. But Lord Curzon had pointed out
on the last occasion that this had been discussed that the procureur general was an
official of the Mixed Coiirts with powers that in practice amounted to very little. It
might he urged that when the Mixed Courts were reorganised, the procureur general
would become very important. This might he the case, but so far as he was aware
there was no prospect of the reorganisation of the Mixed Courts coming into force in the
immediate future. There might be a lapse of many months, indeed of years. There
fore it was of no use the delegation putting forward the procureur general at the
present time as a substitute for the Judicial Commissioner.
"With regard to the financial control he had explained that he wished to prevent
mistakes. Mistakes were equally likely to occur in the judicial and, indeed, in the
ordinary administration of the country. He had lived long enough in the East to
know how the ordinary duties of administration might become liable to abuses, and the
life of foreigners thus rendered difficult. Someone was needed to keep an eye on
things whenever abuses cropped up and see that the guilty persons were punished.
This was a matter which concerned all foreigner. If His Majesty’s Government were
to be responsible towards foreign Governments this was the sort of matter with regard
to which they would demand protection. He hoped, therefore, that the delegation
would realise that some guarantee must be arranged for. Possibly if he himself had
to go to Paris next week they might, in conference with Mr. Lindsay, be able to find
some solution of this question.
Lord Curzon realised that the delegation were anxious that there should not be
interference at all stages in the internal administration of the country. In this desire
he entirely concurred, but the British Government were bound to protect foreigners,
and to do so had to prevent mistakes occurring.
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. referred to Lord Curzon’s remark that the new organisation of the
Mixed Courts might not come into force for months or years. He wished to explain
that all the statements of the delegation had been drawn up on the basis of the clause
contained in the Milner memorandum to the effect that any treaty concluded with
Egypt would only come into force after the reorganisation ol the Mixed Courts. Was
he therefore to understand that Lord Curzon now envisaged the coming into force of
the treaty independently of the conclusion of the necessary agreements with the
Capitulatory Powers?
Lord Curzon replied that this was a fair comment. The point referred to by
Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had not yet been discussed, and he was anxious to learn the delegation s
views with regard to it.
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Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that they did not know how the negotiations with the Powers
were proceeding. They had therefore envisaged the question as a whole. If, however,
the two things were to he independent they must reconsider their observations.
Lord Curzon replied that the treaties had been concluded with five of the Powers
concerned and that six still remained to be dealt with. The delegation probably
realised the difficulties. The Powers concerned were anxious to bargain. I ranee
raised the question of Tangier, Italy that of Jubaland.
Lord Curzon then dealt with the question of foreign affairs. The statement he
had received from the delegation was largely a repetition of the remarks which Adly
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had made during the previous discussion. Lord Curzon wished to comment on
one or two passages which did not seem to him quite fair. They said that supposing
the Egyptian Government in the future wished to intrigue at some foreign capital,
such as Rome or Paris, they could easily do so through unofficial agents. There was
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