Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎65r] (129/473)

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LORD ALLBNBY said that he thought opinion was unanimous
that something in the nature of Lord y.ilner's scheme would
be quite workable, but he would like to point out that this
view was held before the scheme provided ^or representation
in ^oreir^ countries, and he thought most of the British
officials in Kgypt would be very shy of this provision.
LORD MILMFiR said he did not think anyone thought for a
moment that the system under which an Egyptian Minister had
control, with British Civil Servants working under him,
would not work. Egypt remained ov-shadowed by British
oower, and he believed they were much better disposed to us
than to anyone else. There was also the question of the
accessibility of Egypt by sea, and -ith our sea power we could
do practically what we liked strategically. Moreover, by her
own act we were to have a permanent base in Egypt. As re gar dr
the possibility of foreign intrigues in Egypt, she was only
to ha rr e an Alliance with us.
•Jr 30NAR LAW thought that, with good •• ill on the part of
the Egyptians, the proposed scheme might work, out if not,
it appeared to him to be hopeless. He very much doubted if
th fourteen foreign Powers who had Capitulatory rights
would be willing to agree to the proposals. He did not think
c 0 r a movent that if the British Government were in the
plac" or one 0 f ttrse Powers they would do so.
Some discussion then ensued, during which considerable
doubt was expressed as to how, under th- proposed
would be possible to prevent the French or any other foreign
Power from intriguing in Egypt and gradually strengthening
t v i p A t position.
The question - as also discussed as to the extent to which
His Majesty’s Govemront would be responsible for providing
troops for the maintenance of internal order xn ZgyA ar ‘ a
a. ^ r^. t*^ in tc as^ ox.
the protection of the property of : 0 *ei.-.,r. ,r •
the Egyptian Army proving unreliable.
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