PZ 5636/35 'Egypt: Annual Reports 1934 -1938' [‎131r] (268/342)

3
[11244] B 2
bot^deserv^Tnd^pp-lpH 11016 ^ f )ro g , ' am me of educational development which
reiected Zvifion ”?= J 18813 ^' 6 from P ul ? hc funds - and thou gh much was
towarrU ^ f ki W i aS ma( ^ e „ ln t ^ le estimates for a conditional grant of £10 000
ZvTso V Committee n 6 ^ f a t girls ’ SCh °? 1 in Alexandna. & An Educational
avisoi} Committee, on instructions, was also constituted.
Egypdan^rmv and made in j 933 and ® arly in 1934 for increases in the
to^bf-)don?Zhv w d h f0ri : e . Ca o Sed me t0 ralse the whole question of the policy
obe adopted by His Majesty s Government in the United Kingdom in regard to
the comoeteiiVlV 11 " T' f de . question was still under consideration by
1 ? P tme w ts ° f Hls Majesty’s Government at the end of the year,
there were < inrHnZ eeil ^ ypt • a?ld ^ySudau continued to be satisfactory and
ZftZZ Z tKmS j a . 0 P m f°P m EgyP 1 towards the Sudan, following upon
mole y distinguished Egyptians to that country, was becoming
101 e lealistic. Attempted Italian encroachments over the Sudan frontier from
ibya were checked by the occupation in January of Merga and the Kharkour
Mourr wells at Oweinat by the Royal Air Force and Sudan Defence Force. An
agieement, satisfactory to His Majesty’s Government, was finally reached with
the Italian Government, the Egyptian Government being kept informed.
Crime statistics for the year, though showing a slight decrease, remained
unsatisfactory, and, as a result of representations made to the Minister of the
Interior m January, steps were taken with the object of gaining greater security
tor foreigners living in the Provinces and generally to improve the work of the
P an( i fPc Parquet and to secure the selection of judges of character and
ability to try murder cases in the Native Courts.
The Narcotics Bureau functioned actively during the year and available
evidence indicates that the smuggling of white drugs has sensibly diminished.
The economic recovery which commenced in the autumn of 1933 was reflected
m surpluses of £E. 1,081,000 in the State budget and £E. 355,000 in the railway
budget. In consequence the ban on increases of pay and promotion in the civil
service in force since 1931 was removed. No new steps were, however, taken to
relieve debtors on agricultural mortgages.
The index figure of wholesale prices which had reached its lowest in May,
1933, was fifteen per cent, higher a year later and has continued to rise. The
base of the recovery was the large cotton crop of 1933-34 (8,575,000 kantars)
disposed of at an average price 7 per cent, higher than that of the previous year.
The recovery appeared to be shared equally by the business and agricultural
communities and several striking statistics showed the widespread nature of the
recovery amongst the masses of the farming population.
While the prospects of continued recovery, which depend entirely on cotton,
are good, the position existing before the crisis is far from being restored,
mortgage debtors in particular being heavily involved in difficulties.
Chapter I.—Internal Politics and Relations with the British Empire.
The year opened in Egypt in an atmosphere of general expectation, hopeful
on the part of the Opposition, fearful on the part of. the Palace and the Govern
ment. In spite of London press statements to the contrary, the belief in Egypt
was general that the transfer of Sir Percy Loraine and my appointment denoted
a forthcoming change of the Egyptian policy of His Majesty’s Government in
the United Kingdom.
2. I arrived in Egypt on the 7th January. Immediately on my arrival the
Prime Minister, Abdel Fattah Yehia Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , made himself objectionable by
refusing to submit to the usual protocol of visits between the High Commissioner
and the Prime Minister. The result was that he did not pay his first official visit
to me until my return from England in February. The King received me
cordially, but supported his Primes Minister’s obstinate refusal to call. His
Majesty made reference to the desirability of a treaty settlement but did not
discuss politics generally.
3. After ten days in Egypt I left for England on the 17th January and
Mr. Yencken remained in charge.