Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎174r] (350/473)

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keystone is liable to be removed at the whim of an unstable people and bring the
whole edifice tumbling to the ground.
Lastly, and in the distant future an independent Egypt can raise an air force of
any desired magnitude. It will be long before this will be formidable in technique, but
the possible danger of such a force astride of our communications to the East is out of
all proportion to its technical perfection. An excuse that it is for the maintenance of
internal security alone would exempt it from interference from us till a crisis actually
arose, and the delay caused by dealing with the menace in an adequate manner before
reinforcements could be sent to a far Eastern theatre might be a deciding factor
in operations, if we were confronted with a major war in such theatres.
Air Staff, February 1921.
Suggested Treaty Clauses for Safeguarding Air Force Interests.
The peculiar value of Egypt to the Air Force has been shown above and the effect
of the Milner Commission’s proposals has been examined. The safeguarding of Air
Force interests is difficult, but the following provisions in the treaty—which, it is
presumed, will be made—may afford some measure of security :—
1. The strength of the Air Force to be maintained in Egypt will be as required for
Imperial purposes.
2. Its distribution will be as necessitated for those purposes, and particularly—
(a.) To maintain and guard communications, Imperial and local.
(/>.) To co-operate, as required, with the Navy and Army.
(c.) To form a reserve for the Air Forces in Eastern theatres.
(d.) To provide training establishments for Air Force personnel.
3. In the case of war outside Egypt, facilities are to be offered as follows : —
(a.) To use Eiiypt as a base.
(b.) To move freely over or control railways.
(c.) To control telegraphs, signals and wireless, and to establish a censorship
as necessary.
4. Disciplinary clauses should confer :—
(a.) The right to carry arms at all times.
(6.) The right of British airmen to trials for civil offences by British and not
local civil courts.
(c.) The right to maintain order among airmen in towns by means of Air
Force police patrols.
(d.) Permission to employ native labour as needed, and to enlist Egyptian
personntd if required.
5. Material concessions desired are : —
(a.) Free import of Air Force stores.
(6.) Choice of training localities as desired for the Air Force.
' (c.) Acquisition and security of tenure of land and buildings required for
Air Force purposes.
(d.) Facilities for storage of petrol and the supply thereof if found in
quantity in Egypt.
(e.) Facilities for the establishment of strategical aerial routes.
(f.) The right to erect wireless stations and to run telegraph and telephone
lines for Air Force purposes.
(g.) Port and rail facilities to be freely offered in peace as well as war on
reasonable terms.
(h.) Permission to start aircraft munition works and factories.