Coll 15/5 'EGYPT British community in Egypt: problems of post-war reconstruction' [‎23r] (45/68)

right for a liriiea number of British subjects to be allowed to
enter Egypt y the Committee also considered the possibility of
establishing a system of quotas, based on the number of British
subjects resident in Egypt. In this connection the American
legislation was studied, but it was found hardly to be applicable
to the problem in Egypt, where there is in reality no question of
immigration of British subjects for the purpose of permanent
residence and establishment at all. In consequence the rules
applied by the United States to fix the quotas and allot the
permits do not appear to be appropriate here. On the other hand
it might well be useful to refer the Egyptian Government to
the realisitc and generous attitude adopted by the United
States Government towards the legitimate desire of foreigners
to enter the United States and in particular to the fact that
it is only immigrants properly so called that are subjected to
quota limitation, which is expressly stated not to be applic
able to aliens entitled to enter the United States solely to
carry on trade between the United States and the foreign States
of which they are nationals under and in pursuance of the pro
visions of a Treaty of Ccmmerce, together with their wives and
infant children c Similarly it could be pointed out that the
quota does not apply to the entry into the United States of
Ministers of Religion and professors of schools or colleges.
23. The question of maintaining the efficiency of British
business undertakings in Egypt and the introduction of new
enterprises is, however, only one element in the paramount
obligation which will arise after the war of securing for the
British Community in Egypt full employment and thereby the
means of obtaining an adequate livelihood, This obligation is
particularly imperative in the case of that class which can be
regarded as "labour'’, but it is just in the case of this class
that the main difficulties are certain to be encountered, owing
to the competition of Egyptian and, to a lesser degree, other
foreign labour. By far the largest percentage of British labour
in Egypt is composed of persons of Maltese and Cypriot origin, and
it is their future which presents at once the most insistent and
the most difficult problem.
24, It is considered that both as one practical method of
meeting the situation, and as an example to other employers, the
greatest consideration should be given by all British and British
controlled firms to the claims of Maltese and Cypriots to be
employed by them in preference to other non-Egyptians, In
particular everything possible should be done by them to
find jobs for such of these communities as during the war
have been employed by the Forces in a civilian capacity and
have thereby fallen out of ordinary civil employment. It is
considered that all firms trading with the United Kingdom
should be called upon to cooperate in this, and especially all
members of the British Chambers of Commerce. In order to
facilitate their collaboration it is proposed to supply British
Chambers of Commerce with the information now being collated
by the National Service Organisation for the use of the
Rehabilitation Boards as reported in paragraph 3 of this Report,
25, In spite of the difficulties of a political nature
that are Known ^ l r i e 4 " , the Coruiiiit *: ee feci bcnnd to recommend
in/