File of printed papers marked 'Egyptian negotiation' between Curzon and Adly Pasha and the Egyptian delegation [‎70r] (139/178)

[This Document is the Property of Hig Britannic Maj—ty^ GoYernment. ]
&
CONFIDENTIAL.
EGYPTIAN NEGOTIATIONS.
[E 9726/260/16]
Minute by Mr Lindsay.
Lord Curzon,
ADLY PASHA An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. called yesterday, accompanied by Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . The conversation,
conducted in the tone that has prevailed during the past few (lays, was mostly on the
questions that concern Sidky as Minister of Finance—namely, Suez Canal, the service
of the three Ottoman loans and the compensation of British officials. For the two
former we'are arranging for interviews between Sidky Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and the competent
officials of the Board of Trade and the Treasury. For the British officials, we handed
to them the annexed statement (see (A)), showing the basic principles on which it was
desired that the compensation should be calculated. We also undertook to give them
a copy of Mr. Percival’s explanatory report and a copy of the table prepared by the
Association of British Officials, warning them, however, that the latter must not be
regarded as authoritative or as necessarily representing a correct application of the
principles. We had some discussion on this question, which was of an inconclusive
nature, as the Egyptian Ministers have not yet thoroughly studied the subject.
Religious Toleration .—In accordance with a promise given at a previous meeting,,
we gave them the enclosed formula (see (B)) taken from the European Minorities
Treaties, with the mere substitution of the word “ Egypt ” for the name of the
European contracting State. This formula seemed to please them greatly, more
perhaps by reason of its origin than of its substance.
The financial clause was touched on only to give Adly an occasion for expressing
his general satisfaction with its tendencies. He clearly thinks that something on these
lines will pass.
On the clause about the protection of foreigners he continues to display
considerable anxiety. His suggestion now was that we should omit mention of the
three commandants in the three towns and conhne ourselves to the establishment in
the Ministry of the Interior, under the Minister, of an European Bureau to look after
foreign interests. He said, what is quite true, that the Egyptian Government
would never want to appoint an Egyptian commandant in any of the three towns, and
that even if they did so wish they would probably have difficulty in finding an
Egyptian to take the post, owing to its peculiar nature. As to the European Bureau,
he could defend it on the ground that some such institution used to exist in the days
of Ismail Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
At the end of this meeting we agreed that further discussion along the lines
followed during the last few days would hardly be necessary. Each side had now
acquired an idea of the aims and desires of the other, and a period of reflection would
be useful. The Egyptian delegation will therefore at the end of this week disperse to
various parts of Europe to do their cures, take lessons in English, and otherwise
improve their miuds and bodies, prepared to reassemble at the end of September and
come to grips with the problems confronting them. *
R. C. L.
Foreign Office, August 25, 1921.
Annex (A).
Principles on which it is suggested that the Compensation Scheme should be based.
1. The Egyptian Government shall be entitled to dismiss British officials at any
time after the coming into force of the treaty on condition that such officials shall
receive monetary compensation as hereafter provided, in addition to any pension or
indemnity to which their conditions of service may entitle them.
2. On the like condition British officials shall be entitled to resign at any time
after the coming into force of the treaty.
3. The scheme shall apply to pensionable and non-pensionable officials as well as
to employees of municipalities, provincial councils or other local public bodies.
421—7 [6864]
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