Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎196v] (395/473)

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Proposed Arrangements in regard to I mports and Exports by British Military
Authorities for Troops in Egypt.
I.—Imports.
(a.) By the British Militaiy Authorities.
Goods* imported by the British military authorities, being the property of the
British Government and destined for the use of the British army, may be imported
free of duty, subject to the following conditions:—
Conditions.
1. They must be addressed to the British military authorities in Egypt, and taken
delivery of by them.
2. The privilege of free import should only cover such articles as are imported by
the army for official use, whether issue is made free or on repayment to troops.
It is understood that issue on repayment is confined to stores in the vocabulary
of military issuing departments, and does not apply to tobacco.
3. The nature and quantity of all goods imported by the British army must be
declared to the Customs before withdrawal through the customs gates, and, in case of
foodstuffs, the value.
4. The Customs will have the full right of examining all goods passing through
the customs gates.
5. Requisitions for entry of goods duty free will be made out on form (A) and
signed by responsible officers, whose names and signatures should have been previously
communicated to the Egyptian Customs Administration.
6 . All goods of any kind imported into Egypt and subsequently sold in the
country, whether by the military authorities or by another authority on their behalf,
shall be subject to duty, and shall not be delivered to their purchasers until duty has
been paid to the Customs and a clearance certificate given by the latter to the
purchaser.
If, however, goods are sold to purchasers for immediate export, they may be
exempted from the payment of import duty, but only if carried to the port of shipment
and shipped abroad under full Customs supervision.
7. This arrangement will not apply to animals imported for slaughter, which are
not covered by this arrangement.
(b.) By Individuals, Units, or Navy, Army or Air Force Institutes.
Members of His Majesty’s forces on duty in Egypt, and those in the service of His
Majesty’s forces, all navy, army or air force institutes, and those in their service,
provided that such members or persons are not permanently resident in Egypt, shall
be entitled to import free of duty their personal effects and those of their fiTmilies, or,
in the case of institutes, articles required solely for the purpose of the institute. This
privilege is confined to articles addressed to the person or institute claiming the
privilege.
In order to claim personal exemption from duty or exemption in the name of the
institute, certificate (B) must be handed to the Customs authorities, or, in the case of
postal packets, postal form No. 43 M. must be handed to the Postal authorities.
Certificates may be dispensed with in respect of luggage with units on a troopship,
provided that the Officer Commanding Troops certifies that he is satisfied no contraband
is carried. This will not dispense with Customs examination.
I his pi ivilege shall not cover the importation of wines, tobacco, provisions,
motor-cars, carriages, guns or such animals as are not on the ration strength of the
unit, but, by arrangement with the Customs, the duty collected from units, navy,
army or air force institutes on beer and provisions will be refunded in a bulk sum
monthly to the General Officer Commanding, Egypt, who undertakes that any sum so
received shall be distributed to the troops on a per capita basis to be fixed by the
Army Council, but no refunds shall be made to individual units in respect of particular
payments, nor should any portion of a sum be refunded to institutes.
General Officer Commanding will present monthly to the Customs a claim for
refund, supported by Customs vouchers or Post Office receipts and by certificate (C)