Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎196r] (394/473)

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may be considered necessary for the furtherance of our special interests,
but no attempt to be made to enter into competition with local enterprise
in purely civil industries.
Intelligence.
(k.) Provision to ensure for us access, for intelligence and other purposes, to all
parts of Egypt at all times.
Quartering. ,
(l.) Right to retain existing barracks if .required or recover possession of them if
necessary.
If His Majesty’s Government find it desirable to vacate such accom
modation at any time its value (if originally erected by His Majesty s
Government^ should be credited to His Majesty’s Government.
If it is found necessary to vacate accommodation, the property of the
Egyptian Government, the latter should provide new and up-to-date
equivalent accommodation. The practice by which the Egyptian Govern
ment obtains lands and accommodation for Imperial troops when required
should be continued.
Labour.
(m.) Right to engage in the open market any civilian labour that might be
required either in peace or war for service anywhere.
Water.
(n.) Provision of necessary facilities to obtain water for local cultivation,
drainage, &c., in any place where troops are located, and such control of
Ismalia Sweetwater Canal as will ensure adequate supply of drinking
water in canal zone.
(o.) Provision for the military control of the canal after 1968.
(p.) Unrestricted power to use British troops in case of civil disturbances when
the lives or property of foreigners are menaced.
Arms Traffic,.
(q.) Control of traffic in arms.
Frontier District Administration.
(r.) Frontier district administration to be under control of British officers, as at
present.
Customs.
(s.) The right to move military goods to Palestine from Egypt, subject to rebate
of customs duties.
Sinai Railway.
(t.) The Egyptian Government to agree not to throw any impediment in the way
of the maintenance of the Sinai Hailway, provided that the arrangement
does not involve control of this line by any private company not approved
by the Egyptian Government.
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Drafting.
3. The above clauses should be so drafted as to convey to the Egyptian people
that our forces in the country do not constitute an “ army of occupation,” intended to
keep them in subjection. On the contrary, such a force will be stationed in their
country not to dominate them, but to secure objects of our own, extraneous to Egypt,
while available, in case of need, for the defence of Egypt against foreign aggression or
interference.
[5573 i—2]
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