Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎74v] (148/176)

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549. Expenditure was £E. 840,000 in 19^0 and £E. 900 526 in 19^1, £E. 501,OOo
and £E. 551,000 respectively of these sums being devoted to new works.
550. The most important of the new works now proceeding is the extension or
Suez harbour, wdiile at Alexandria the walls and filling of quay K have been finished
and mole E has been completed except for paving, and the cranes and machinery on
this mole are expected to be in working order before the end of 1922.
. 88. Aviation.
There is outwardly no change in the situation as regards the development
of eml aviation in Egypt since my last report, but much useful preparatory work has
been done in the interval, such as the drafting of an air law and the framing of
technical regulations.
552. Although there is now no actual prohibition of civil aviation in Egypt, yet
there has existed a virtual prohibition by reason of the fact that all existing aero-
dromes are still under the control of the Royal Air Force, who have not as yet
signified their willingness to throw open their aerodromes for use by civil aircraft.
Negotiations are in progress, however, with a view to permitting such aircraft to
use certain specified Royal Air Force aerodromes subject to compliance with regula
tions and conditions which will be settled between the Ministry of Communications
and the Royal Air Force, and subject to the payment of such dues and fees as may be
determined—an arrangement similar to that introduced in England during'the
inaugural stage of civil aviation immediately after the war. Apart from this,
however, all aerodromes in Egypt have, by Sultanic decree, been declared a monopoly
of the State, so that no person may use any area of land for the purposes of an
aerodrome without obtaining the sanction of the Egyptian Government.
553. As far as can be foreseen the policy of the Government towards civil
aviation in Egypt whll be to afford such material assistance as may be possible, such
as the provision of land for aerodromes, but it is not at present proposed to grant
subventions. Measures are being taken to reserve sites for a civil aerodrome at
Alexandria.
554. Although several tentative enquiries have been made regarding the
possibilities of commencing aviation in Egypt no definite schemes have yet matured,
ft is difficult to forecast the measure of success which may attend such enterprises
within Egypt, but there is probably not much scope for local air services.
555. Egypt is likely, however, to become an important air junction for inter
national air routes, and with this probability in view the Ministry of Communica
tions keeps in constant touch wdth aerial developments in all the more important
countries of the world. The Royal Air Force have been working a fortnightly
air-mail between Cairo and Bagdad since September 1921.