تقارير وأوراق للجنة الإدارة المصرية [و‎‎٢‎٨] (١٠٨/٥٥)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF' HIS BRITA^IC MAJESTY* S GOVERNMENT.
1 ^ _ 1 “ n 1 1 U ■■ - ■■■—■ •— I pi. I W »—-W.
S-E C R E T. ?
fr '
E.A.C.l.
EGT^FTIAN A Oi/i INISTRATION COMMITTEE .
(Extract from letter dated 28th September
1917 from Lord Edward Cecil to Lord Curaon)
When I came to thinlc over what you said about the
f ; composition of the new Department, I came to the conclusion
K f I was wrong .
Foreign Office or Diplomatic men would of course
be the best to deal with Diplomatic questions . I partially
misunderstood you end thought that 1.0. and Diplomatic men
were to be employed on Administrative matters. This, I
venture to think, would be a mistake.
My real differences with Graham are:- (i) This
question of an Egyptian Department ought to be dealt with
now and not be put off . The new system is required now .
You cannot make changes even of machinery when the
situation becomes acute . ( ii) Men belonging to the
Egyptian Administrative Service shouid deal with questions
of Egyptian Administration as far as possible . Men
belonging to the F.O. or Diplomatic Service should deal
with Egyptian Diplomacy and Foreign affairs.
I am not, as has been suggested, opposed to the
F.O. - far from it - but I venture to think they are not
best fitted to deal with questions outside their ordinary
functions . The importance of our government of Egypt
during the near future can hardly be exaggerated as on it
■ th- 6 future of Egypt largely depends; therefore measures
jf should be taken as soon as possible to render the machinery
of the British Government of Egypt as efficient as
possible. It has not been suggested that Egypt should ; be
governed from Whitehall but it seems absolutely necessary
to be sure that H.B.M.G. fully understands and approves
the local policy pursued .
It is also essential for the well-being of Egypt
that her government should be adequately represented in
all matters at Home. No business house would transact the
business they transact without qualified local
representatives .