Reports and papers of the Egyptian Administration Committee [‎41r] (81/108)

I
this seniority will always, cn^oy such
experience and qualifications , and indeed
I have no recollection of this
and do not know what it refers
EAC/5rd.Minutes p.2.paras 678
^C) SVi. p. 3 . par a I.
if , as seems probable , a Near or Kiddle
Eastern Department is fcrrncd it would be
toe much to expect that ho should possess
interior first-hand acquaintance with so
many and various localities. It 'is there
fore proposed that a certain number of
Officials with experience of the inner
working of the Egyptian Government itself
should be detached cr seconded in rotation
from Egypt to work in the Foreign Office
in the special Department, remaining there
for a period not exceeding 3 or at most
4 years and returning to their Ministry
in Egypt at the end of that time. It
is considered that this system would
insure Egyptian problems being handled
with up-to-date knowledge and the sympathy
resulting from 12 to 15 years -work in
the country .
The Committee and witnesses are
unanimous in desiring to increase the
quantity and quality of understanding
and assistance extended to the High
Commissioner, rather than, by tightening
the control upon him from London, to
lower hxs prestigej and it via felt that*
by placing the specialist staff in the
middle or junior ranks of the Department
rather than at its head, the risk of
doubling the post of High Commissioner
Financial Adviser and others by an expert
Official of high position and possibly
conflicting- views would be eliminated