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PZ 5636/35 'Egypt: Annual Reports 1934 -1938' [‎20r] (46/342)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (166 folios). It was created in 15 Aug 1935-22 Sep 1939. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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•27
National Flying Corporation.
67. Apart from the danger of foreign influence in Egyptian civil aviation
through the establishment of foreign air services terminating in Egypt, there
have been symptoms of foreign influence asserting itself through the German
sympathies of various Egyptian aviation personalities, notably Mohamed Taher
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the Vice-President of Misr Airwork, Count Almazy, who is closely
associated with him in running a school for gliding, and, most clearly, Nabil
Abbas Halim. Abbas Halim has organised during the year, with the help of
Hassan Anis Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , a body known as “ The National Flying Corporation,”
which is intended to do propaganda for aviation in Egypt and particularly to
offer advanced flying training. Abbas Halim has a certain influence, particularly
at the Palace, and his organisation met with some success. He obtained a
subsidy of £E. 4,000 from the Ministry of Communications and with this money
purchased two Czecho-Slovak and one German aircraft for training. He also
ordered a British aircraft, but has not yet obtained delivery. One of his avowed
objects is to break the monopoly position of Misr Airwork, particularly as
regards flying training. By the terms of the Misr authorisation they are given
the exclusive right to train pilots on Government aerodromes. The National
Flying Training Corporation have therefore been examining the possibility of
making new aerodromes of their own, but they are still handicapped in this
and other developments by lack of funds. Abbas Halim took a large part in the
reception of various visiting German aircraft, and it is feared that he will
try to build up his organisation with the help of German aircraft and German
experts.
Civil Aviation Department.
68. The organisation of the Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry
of Communications has some importance both from the defence aspect (since the
presence of a British official there allows early information of a foreign applica
tion to be received), and from the point of view of the safety of flying and the
Empire Airmail services. At the beginning of 1938 the post of Director-General
of Civil Aviation was held by a British official, Group-Captain R. J. Bone.
His position in the Ministry had for some time been undermined by intrigue
in the Ministry, with the result that, while he could take useful steps in informing
the embassy of foreign moves and in holding up and refusing undesirable foreign
applications for air services, his positive recommendations were seldom carried
out in full. The unsatisfactory nature of Group-Captain Bone’s position was
taken up on several occasions with the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Communications, but these representations had little effect and othei means had
to be devised for improving the organisation of the Civil Aviation Department
and increasing the British participation in it.
69. The two most hopeful suggestions which emerged from much discussion
were that Civil Aviation should "be transferred to the Ministry of War and
Marine, and that the posts of Director-General, Civil Aviation, and of Chie
Technical Inspector in the Civil Aviation Department (held by Mr. A. W.
Savage) should, on the retirement of Group-Captain Bone, become advisory rathei
than executive. It was contemplated that, if the transfer of Civil Aviation to
the Ministry of Defence could be arranged, Group-Captain Tait of the Mi i aiy
Mission, would be able to keep a watchful eye on both military an civi
aviation. There was every reason to suppose that following upon Group-Gap tain
Bone’s retirement the Egyptian side of Civil Aviation (and notably Roushdy
Bey) would become more amenable, and would be obliged to rely on the advice
of Mr. Savage. Group-Captain Bone left the Egyptian Government service on
the 26th December, and Roushdy Bey was appointed Acting Director-General,
Civil Aviation. By this time the Air Ministry had agreed to allow Mr. Savage
to remain a further year in Egypt, and the prospect of the transfer of Civil
Aviation to the Ministry of Defence was bright as the year dosed The
unfortunate clash of personalities m the Civil Aviation Department had hmdeie
the much needed improvement of aerodromes, the provision of ^ ir ^ adl ^ s f r ^ lc ^
and the proper organisation of meteorological observation, and the anxiety of
the embassy to effect a speedy improvement was due to then- interest not only
in the air defences of Egypt, but also m the provision of all possible facilities
for the Empire Airmail Scheme. The Air Ministry lent the serv 1C es of
Mr. Lumsden for the training of Egyptian officers m aerodrome control.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises five printed Foreign Office annual reports (for the years 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938) relating to Egypt.

The printed reports follow the same format. They start with a letter from the High Commissioner to Egypt (Sir Miles Lampson) to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir John Simon, Anthony Eden, Viscount Halifax) with a summary of significant developments.

Accompanying these letters is an enclosure with the annual report for each year. Each report starts with a contents section. The reports have an introduction and sections on internal politics and relations with the United Kingdom and the British Empire; international relations by country; relations between Egypt and the Sudan; economic and financial situation; and general matters.

Extent and format
1 volume (166 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 168; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 5-165 ; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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PZ 5636/35 'Egypt: Annual Reports 1934 -1938' [‎20r] (46/342), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/171, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054923672.0x00002f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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