Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎32v] (64/176)

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“ (2.) Assistance to the Egyptian Government when required for the defence of
the integrity of Egyptian territory against external attack.
“ (3.) The protection of foreign interests in Egypt, as will be provided for in the
new treaty.
“ (4.) Assistance to the Egyptian Government, when required, for the suppres
sion of grave disorder or the defence of public security.
‘For the discharge of these obligations it is proposed that British forces
shall have free passage through Egypt, and shall be maintained at such places in
Egypt and for such periods as shall from time to time be determined. They shall
also at all times have facilities for the acquisition and use of barracks, exercise
grounds, aerodromes and naval yards, and for the free use of naval harbours.
The British Government is prepared to discuss with the Egyptian Government
in the most friendly way the best manner in which to carry out these
requirements.”
12. In reply, Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. said that, in the opinion of the Egyptians, the
occupation should cease during peace time. Egypt was prepared to admit the
importance of Great Britain maintaining troops in the country for the defence of
imperial communications, though their presence must naturally appear incompatible
with independence. If British troops remained they must remain for strategic
reasons only and in purely British interests. They must not interfere in the internal
affairs of Egypt. During the conversations of 1920 it had been distinctly understood
from Lord Milner that, while he refused to consider any proposal to relegate the
British troops to the Asiatic side of the Suez Canal, he agreed to their not being
located in the large towns such as Cairo. Adly Pasha’s answer to Lord Curzon’s
specific points was :—
(1.) As regards the protection of imperial communications, he agreed, so far as
war conditions were concerned, but he hoped that in peace the force might
be confined to a certain zone.
(2.) He considered that it would be an interference with the independence and
sovereignty of Egypt to maintain a British force in the country to defend
her territory against external attack. He did not touch upon the other
two points.
13. Lord Curzon pointed out in reply that it was impossible to draw an arbitrary
distinction between peace and war conditions, and if Great Britain was to carry out
her obligations to Egypt she must maintain forces on the spot. If the proposed
facilities were to be of any use in war they must be fully kept up in peace time.
A long discussion ensued in which Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. pointed out that Lord Curzon’s
arguments were based on the idea that Egypt would never have a reliable police force
or army. At this stage Lord Curzon made an observation which, if it had been
carried through and given effect to by some formula in the draft treaty, might
conceivably have altered the course of events. He said that the creation of a reliable
force would take a little time. Egypt had good material, and it might be possible to
reconsider the situation if and when a really reliable native force was in existence.
At present the force was in its babyhood and during that stage British troops must
be available. This subsequently led to the suggestion that the question might be
reconsidered in ten years, but Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. hesitated to accept the proposal as it stood,
on the ground that it gave to the presence of British troops on Egyptian territory the
character of occupation in fact and was consequently not in harmony either with the
conclusions of Lord Milner’s Mission or with the Egyptian delegation’s conception of
representative opinion in Egypt. In view of this divergence of opinion it was decided
to reserve further discussion of this question until other points had been examined.
As a matter of fact the question does not appear to have been further dealt with in
conference after the return of Adly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to London early in October. Adlv Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
saw the Prime Minister early in November, and after his interview eonveved the
impression that he had abandoned all hope of reaching an agreement. The draft
treaty which emerged after discussion in the Cabinet was quite unacceptable to the
Egyptian delegation, to whom it was communicated on the 10th November. In their
reply, dated the 15th November, the delegation referred in the following terms to
the question of troops :—
“ Ainsi pour la question militaire, dont Timportance est capitate, le projet
maintient, en aggravant meme sa portee, la solution que nous avions si fortement