Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎7v] (14/473)

reduction will help to relieve the Soudan from all financial dependence on Egypt at an
earlier date than would otherwise be possible. The sooner the finances of the two
countries can be entirely separated the better.
\\ henever that separation can be effected it will be necessary to take account of
the expenditure which Egypt lias incurred on behalf of the Soudan since its reconquest
and to fix the amount which the Soudan can be fairly asked to repay and the terms on
which it should be liquidated. In determining that amount It would be reasonable to
take into consideration the benefits which Egypt has herself derived from her
expenditure in the Soudan.
Meanwhile something should be done immediately to draw a clearer line of
division between Egyptian and Soudanese finance. At the same time, the Financial
Department of the Soudan should be simplified and cheapened and its control over
other departments rendered less rigid. An Auditor-General should be appointed, who
should be independent of all departments.
Ihere has of late days been an increasing tendency on the part of the more
extreme section of Egyptian Nationalists to call in question the Convention of 1899,
which defines the political status of the Soudan. While advocating “complete
independence’’ for Egypt, they lay claims to the Soudan as an exclusively Egyptian
possession. This contention is totally inadmissible. Any treaty which may be
concluded between Great Britain and Egypt must provide for the recognition of that
Convention and establish the relations of the two countries for the future upon a basis
which will secure the independent development of the Soudan while safeguarding the
vital interests of Egypt in the waters of the Nile.
Egypt has an indefeasible right to an ample and assured supply of water for the
land at present under cultivation and to a fair share of any increased supply which
engineering skill may be able to provide. A formal declaration on the part of Great
Britain that she recognises this right and is resolved under all circumstances to
uphold it would go far to allay the uneasiness which prevails in Egypt on this subject.
We are of opinion that such a declaration might with advantage be made at the’
present time.
J. G. M.
0. T.
J. A. S.
C. J. B. H.
March 3, 1920.