Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎204r] (410/473)

undertook to work with me in carrying out the policy of His Majesty’s Government.
His Highness can be counted on to carry out his undertakings with the same loyalty as
he has done in the past in difficult times. If he was unwilling at first to admit the
claims of the party to whom the country had come to look for leadership, some allowance
must be made for the fact that the blood of Mohammed Ali runs in his veins. It is
with difficulty that members of that house can be persuaded that the old order of things
has passed away, and that even in Egypt the ruler must conform to democratic practice,
and in matters affecting the fate of the country accept the expression of the
people’s will.
I have, &c.
ALLENBY, F.W.,
High Commissioner.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1 .
High Commissioner to the Sultan.
Your Highness,
Sire, Cairo, February 26, 1921.
I DID not fail to report to His Majesty’s Government the views repeatedly
expressed by your Highness as to the necessity of His Majesty’s Government to
come to a decision on the Milner proposals which would satisfy the legitimate national
aspirations of Egypt and the Egyptian people, with which your Highness has always
been known to be in sympathy.
I am now happv to be able to transmit to your Highness the decision of His
Majesty’s Government, which I feel sure will meet with the views of your Highness,
and facilitate the important task now laid upon your Highness’s shoulders by His
Majesty’s Government of nominating an official delegation to confer with them
regarding the desired settlement. I would particularly draw your Highness’s attention
to the spirit of goodwill displayed in this matter by His Majesty’s Government in
making a concession as regards the abolition of the protectorate in advance of the
official negotiations. This important concession is an index of the anxiety of His
.Majesty’s Government to establish their relations with the Egyptian people on a firm
and lasting friendly basis.
The decision of His Majesty’s Government which I have been authorised to convey
to your Highness personally is to the following effect : —
“ His Majesty’s Government, after a study of the proposals made by Lord Milner,
have arrived at the conclusion that the status of protectorate is not a satisfactory
relation in which Egypt should continue to stand to Great Britain. While they have
not reached final decisions with regard to Lord Milner’s recommendations, they desire
to confer regarding them with a delegation nominated by the Sultan with a view, if
possible, to substituting for the protectorate a relationship which would, while securing
the special interests of Great Britain and enabling her to offer adequate guarantees
to the foreign Powders, meet the legitimate aspirations of Egypt and the Egyptian
people.”
I have, &c.
ALLENBY, F.M.,
High Commissioner.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1 .
Note to Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
POUR assurer le succes des negociations officielles et 1 ’acceptation de 1 accord
eventuel par le pays, il importe de satisfaire, autant que possible, aux conditions
suivantes :
1 . Les d^ldgu^s doivent avoir dans le pays une autorite bas^e sur 1’estime et la
confiance. Non seulement cette autoritd est ndcessaire aupres et I’Assemblee nationale,
mais encore I’adhesion sincere de la population aux stipulations de Taccord d^pendra,
en grande partie, du credit dont jouissent les ddlegues.