تقرير البعثة الخاصة إلى مصر بقيادة اللورد ميلنر، وأوراق ذات صلة [ظ‎‎٢‎٠‎١] (٤٧٣/٤٠٥)

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of providing a basis for the formation of an official delegation, and it seemed that any
delay in taking action at this end on this decision could only complicate the situation.
I informed the Prime Minister accordingly, and told him 1 should tell the Sultan so
when I saw him on the following day. Tewfik Nessim Pasha said he perfectly appre
ciated the position and would explain matters to the Sultan. the Prime Minister then
said His Highness was anxious, if possible, that I should give him a letter showing that
he had obtained a concession for the Egyptian people. His Highness was of opinion
that this would strengthen his hand, and he trusted his request might he acceded to.
I promised to see what could be done.
I realised that I had no authority to inform the Sultan that the concession as
regards the protectorate was made to him in person. On the other hand, I had your
Lordship’s assurance that His Majesty’s Government w^ere willing to find an opportunity
for enabling the Sultan to derive some personal advantage from the negotiations for a
settlement. If a letter in more or less general terms would satisfy the Sultan I saw no
objection to giving it, and I accordingly caused to be prepared the letter, the substance
of which was communicated to your Lordship in my telegram No. 131 of the 26th
February. For the sake of accuracy I enclose a copy.
At my interview on Saturday, the 26th February, when I was accompanied by
Mr. Scott, who had by then returned to Cairo, and who has been present at all my
succeeding interview's with the Sultan, I handed the letter I had prepared to the
Sultan. His Highness read it and expressed great satisfaction with its terms, saying
it would greatly strengthen his position in the country. He thanked me very warmly
for it.
I then told His Highness that it w T as desirable to take action on the decision of
His Majesty’s Government and proceed with the formation of an official delegation. As
regards Mohammed Said Pasha, I took the opportunity of pointing out that 1 v ? as in
some doubt as to the desirability of approaching him, since my information was to the
effect that Mohammed Said was not in favour of a constitutional form of Government,
and was opposed to the settlement desired by His Majesty’s Government.
After remarking that all the politicians in Egypt, including Mohammed Said, were
playing for their own hand, the Sultan said he would send for Adly, Rouchdy, VVahba,
Mazloum, Sirry and perhaps one or two others. The Sultan said Zaghlul would be
invited through Mazloum. He did not think Zaghlul would accept, but feared that
His Majesty’s Government might say that negotiations could not be carried on
without him.
I then mentioned the fears of His Majesty’s Government that if all the best men
went to London Egypt might be left with a weak Government. His Highness said at
most two or three of the Ministers w r ould go to London, and it would be preferable to
carry on with under-secretaries and advisers rather than appoint other Ministers
ad interim. If necessary, it would be possible to appoint an extra Minister or two,
such as a separate Minister of War. I did not dispute this proposition, but told His
Highness I should be glad if he would be good enough to place those whom he might
approach in touch with me after he had seen them. The Sultan willingly agreed, and
the interview came to an end.
On Monday, the 28th February, I received a visit from Mazlcum Pasha, who came
to see me on the instructions of the Sultan.
Mazloum Pasha said he had accepted the presidency of the delegation which had
been offered to him by the Sultan. He declared himself as satisfied with the decision
of His Majesty’s Government as regards the basis for negotiations, but as regards
the formation of the official delegation he considered that members of the Legislative
Assembly should be represented. On my enquiring what should be the proportion of
such members to the total number of the delegation, Mazloum Pasha replied one-third.
He pointed out that members of the Legislative Assembly were elected representatives
of the people and would carry weight, as it was essential that the decisions of the
delegation to be appointed should be ratified by the people subsequently.
Thereafter I received visits from Sirry, Wahba and Mohammed Said Pashas, the
two last named coming together. Sirry Pasha expressed approval of the decision of
His Majesty’s Government, and said he would be glad to go to London. Mohammed
Said and Wahba Pashas seemed eager to co-operate, but said much would depend on
the composition of the delegation.
Your Lordship will perceive that up to this stage I had not seen Adly Pasha.
I had, however, received unofficial information of a disquieting nature as to Adly
Pasha’s attitude to the coalition which the Sultan was hoping to bring about. It had
been reported to me that under no circumstances whatsoever would Adly Pasha