Report of the Special Mission to Egypt under Lord Milner, and related papers [‎91v] (184/473)

of the British official in the Ministry ot Justice; the abandonment of the piovision
of Article 5 of the memorandum—that the coming into iorce ot the contemplated
Treaty between Great Britain and Egypt should be dependent upon the previous
conclusion of agreements with the Powers for necessary modifications in the regime
of the Capitulations; and, above all, the formal abolition of the Protectorate, ^ome
other points of minor importance were also raised, and it was evident that, it all
these matters were to be gone into again, we should reopen the whole ot the discussion
in which we had been occupied for the greater part of the summer. this was a
course in which the members of the Mission were unanimously ot opinion that it
would be perfectly useless for them to engage. As we pointed out to the delegates,
any agreement arrived at between us and them could not in any case be final. All j j
we could do was to pave the way for the official negotiations, which
must be subsequently undertaken, if the idea of a Treaty on the lines which we
had been discussing commelnded itself to British and Egyptian opinion. The
points now brought forward might all be raised in the official negotiations, as other -
points no doubt would be on both sides, and for us to try and anticipate a decision
upon every detail, while it would certainly delay the commencement of those
negotiations, might also seriously prejudice their successful conduct.
The point of view of the Mission was summed up by Lord Milner in a statement
which he made at the second meeting of the delegates on the 9th November. It was
to the following effect:—
“ It seemed desirable to have this meeting before the departure of the Egyptian
representatives in order to clear up the situation and leave room for further co-opera
tion between them and the Mission in the future.
“ The report, which the gentlemen who have lately returned from Egypt have
brought back to us, seems to indicate that there is a great body of opinion favourable
to a settlement on the basis outlined in the memorandum of August. On the other
hand, they state that there are several points in the memorandum which they desire
to modify and several fresh conditions which they wish to add to it before promising
their unconditional support. It is not necessary for me to dwell upon these points
to-day, because the Mission are unanimously of opinion that no good purpose would
be served by a further discussion of details at the present stage.
The memorandum never professed to do more than indicate the general lines on
which an agreement could be arrived at. In any case, as we have always foreseen,
the agreement itself, if it is decided to proceed with it, will have to be the outcome of
formal negotiations between duly accredited representatives of the British and
Egyptian Governments. In those negotiations the fresh points which you have
brought forward as the result of the visit of some of your number to Egypt can be
raised, as other points may be raised on one side or the other. It would be impossible
and undesirable to exclude any proposals not evidently inconsistent with the spirit of
the agreement outlined in the memorandum, which on the face of it requires
elucidation and elaboration before it can be converted into a formal treaty. It would
in our opinion not facilitate a settlement if we were to anticipate these discussions,
therefore, we think it wiser to refrain from any expression of opinion on the new
points recently raised by you at the present time, though we believe that a satisfac
tory solution can, and will, be found when regular negotiations can be undertaken.
“ What is far more important at the present stage than any further discussion
of details is to influence opinion both here and in Egypt in a sense favourable to a
settlement on the lines which we both favour, and above all to cultivate and strengthen
by every means the spirit of friendship and mutual confidence which our conversa
tions here have helped to engender, but which must become general on both sides if
our efforts are to lead to the desired result. As far as this country is concerned, we
hope that the presentation of the report of the Mission, which we are anxious to
complete as quickly as possible, will conduce to that end. But it is equally important
that a similar effect should be produced in Egypt by your endeavours. We gratefully
recognise how much you have already done in that direction. But it is evident that
there is still opposition to be overcome, that there are great numbers of people in f
Egypt who are not imbued with the spirit of the agreement, but are for one reason or
another hostile to a e’ood understanding between Great Britain and Egypt. They
are. or profess themselves to be, suspicious of the intentions of this country, they do
not recognise the generous spirit in which Great Britain is prepared to meet the
aspirations of the Egyptian people. In so far as you are able to dispel this suspicion
and misunderstanding and create a better feeling you will be doing more than can
be done in any other way to bring about the settlement which we all so earnestly
desire.”