Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎169r] (340/473)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
*
Printed for the Cabinet. January 1921.
SECRET.
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS OF LORD MILNER’S REPORT.
Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
IN my remarks on Lord Milner’s Report on Egypt at the recent Cabinet, I said
that I was prepared to advise the acceptance of the following principles underlying
Lord Milner’s proposals :—
(a.) The substitution of a treaty of alliance for the existing Protectorate.
(6.) The recognition, within certain defined limits, of the independence of Egypt.
On the other hand, I felt serious apprehensions and was prepared to suggest definite
modifications in respect of certain points which I specified in the discussion.
They were the following : —
1. The management of foreign affairs, over which there appeared to me to be
established an insufficient British supervision.
2. The position of the High Commissioner, which appeared to me to be, so to
speak, suspended in the air.
3. The future locations of the British forces, a portion of which it seemed to me
(concurring therein with Lord Allen by) imperative to keep for a term of
years, at any rate, in the neighbourhood of Cairo and Alexandria.
4. The ambiguous position of the suggested Financial and Judicial Advisers.
5. The desirability of establishing some contact with and control over the Ministry
of the Interior.
6. The necessity for providing that no foreigners shall in future be appointed to
the Egyptian army, ]
Britain, a point about
be raised.
7. The desirability of guaranteeing as far as possible the stability of the
constitutional monarchy and the succession to the Throne in Egypt.
8. There was also the point, raised by the Prime Minister, viz., the advisability of
providing in some way for the association of the Egypt of the future with
the fabric of the British Empire.
I have sought to secure these points, not b)^ a draft treaty, which would at present
be premature, but by the suggestion of a series of textual amendments of or additions
to the Memorandum printed on pages 24-26 of Lord Milner’s Report, and containing the
bases of the policy recommended by him and his colleagues.
My alterations or additions are printed in italics.
Modifications in the Milner Memorandum.
4 (i). Last sentence to read as follows :—
Egypt will undertake not to adopt in relation to foreign countries an attitude
which is inconsistent with the alliance or will create difficulties for Great Britain,
and will also undertake not to enter into any agreement with a foreign Power which
is prejudicial to British interests.
In furtherance of this undertaking Egypt will at all times frankly and fully
consult the British representative in Egypt on all questions relating to foreign
affairs, and will not enter into any agresunent with a foreign Power without such
consultation. Great Britain on her side will frankly and fully consult the Egyptian
GdvernM&rtl in regard to foreigh affairs in any way affecting the interests of Egypt
[5272]
lice or civil service without the consent of Great
rhich Lord Milner thought that no difficulty would