تقرير البعثة الخاصة إلى مصر بقيادة اللورد ميلنر، وأوراق ذات صلة [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٣] (٤٧٣/٤٠٨)

5
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for an interview with His Highness immediately on my return to Cairo on Saturday
morning.
I visited His Highness accordingly on the afternoon of Saturday, the 12 th March,
and asked him whether Mazloum Pasha had conveyed the message I had given him on
the previous Wednesday, and whether, having regard to the fact that His Highness
has had a fortnight to consider the composition of the official delegation, he was yet in a
position to furnish me with a list of the delegation and Ministry which would meet the
requirements 1 had repeatedly emphasised.
His Highness, evading my direct questions, said Adly Pasha was endeavouring to
impose himself on him and enforce conditions as to the formation of the delegation and
Cabinet. He was encouraged in this attitude by the support of the British Govern
ment, and but for that support he would be glad to be invited to be a member of the
delegation without any conditions whatsoever.
The Sultan said there were only two possible candidates for the Ministry of the
Interior, Mohammed Said Pasha or Tewfik Nessim Pasha. His Highness must
stipulate that he should have a Minister of the Interior in whom he had confidence and
who could keep order. I enquired a^ain of His Highness whether he was in a
position to furnish me with the agreed list of the Ministry and Delegation. He could
not do so, but said he was prepared to agree that Mohammed Said should accompany
the delegation ; whereupon I informed His Highness that 1 intended to see
Mazloum Pasha and Adly Pasha together the same evening. His Highness said he had
no objection.
Mazloum and Adly Pashas came to the Residency a few hours later.
I stated that I understood a difficulty had arisen over Mohammed Said, and that
I had already expressed the opinion he should not remain in Egypt but should go to
London, and that the Sultan now agreed. Both Mazloum and Adly Pashas then
gave me t<» understand that the last remaining difficulty had been removed, and
Mazloum Pasha said he would be able to submit his list to the Sultan on the following
day. At the time Adly Pasha made no comment; but in conversation with Mr. Scott
the same evening he emphasised the fact he must be consulted as to the composition of
the Ministry and the distribution of the posts, since if he agreed to co-operate
on a basis other than that which would be approved in the country he would lose his
whole influence.
Not hearing that any decision had been reached during the course of Sunday,
the 13th March, I decided that the time had come to intervene directly in the
negotiations.
I accordingly asked for an interview with His Highness on Monday morning, the
14th instant, with a view to demanding an immediate settlement of the question of the
Ministry and delegation.
His Highness was unable to receive me, being ill in bed with a severe chill.
His Highness, however, sent the Grand Chamberlain to see me at the Presidency on
his behalf.
I informed Said Zulkifar Pasha that time pressed, that His Highness had asked
for my advice as regards Mohammed Said, that I had given it, and that my advice
once given was not my own but the opinion of His Majesty’s Government, which
they would expect should be followed. I added that if Mazloum Pasha was unable to
get together or hold together a coalition some other head must be found, and that
at once. Too much time had been lost already, and if the Egyptians could not make
up their minds 1 should have to act on behalf of and under instructions from His
Majesty’s Government.
The Grand Chamberlain promised to inform the Sultan at once, and to return with
a reply in the course of the day.
At 4 o’clock 1 received a further visit from the Grand Chamberlain, who stated
that Mazloum Pasha had informed the Sultan that the difficulties which had been
placed in his way made it impossible for him to undertake the task of forming a
Ministry and delegation. The Sultan now proposed to approach Adly Pasha, and Said
Zulkifar Pasha said he was on his way to Adly Pasha with a view to asking him to
come to the palace. He promised that after Adly Pasha had seen His Highness he
would send him to see me at tlie Residency.
Meanwhile, not having heard the views of the Prime Minister on the recent
developments, I sent Mr. Keown-Boyd to see him. Tewfik Nessim Pasha said he had
realised for some days that the only possible solution of the difficulty was that the
arrangements in connection with the delegation should be entrusted to a new Ministry.
As regards himself, he could not see his way to accept a post in a Ministry to be formed
[5795 hh—5] C