Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎64r] (127/473)

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Egyptians ther.selves, and the British officials merely used
their influence.
A short discussion then ensued regarding the system which
had been in vogue in Egypt in years gene by, during which
it was pointed out that Kis Majesty’s Government exercised a
very great control, in so far as they only allowed those
ministers to be appointed ‘ho were prepared to carry out a
policy in accord with the British point of view. The point
was also raised as to what extent it would be necessary, under
the proposals, for the Egyptian Govern me nt to take the advice
of the British officials in Egypt, and as to whether, if they
wanted an engineer or a man to run the railways, it would be
possible to insist on their employing British officials and
not French or American: and, again, as to whether, if they
wanted officers for the Egyptian Amy, they might not say
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that the French knew much more about military matters than
the British and that they wanted to employ French officers.
LOBE MILNER explained that,under the general lir^-e of the
scheme as already outlined, this was not expressly barred,
but it certainly was his intention that it should be so. Hio
idea was that special arrangements should be created between
the British and Egyptian Governments.
LORE CURZON, in reply to a quevStion by the Prime Minister,
explained + he system of control over Native States in India
as regards their military forces and the employment of foreign
officials. He -suggested that in the case of Egypt the best
way would surely be to lay down certain conditions, and ex
pressly to state that if foreign officers were required they
could only be appointed with the concurrence o** His Majesty’s
Government.
Mr 30NAR LAW asked if anyone could say what viev-rs were
held by British officials,at present serving in Egypt, on
Lord Milner’s proposals. He would li&e to /^no , for a...pl .,
was opinion unanimous that they would not v/oik?