Coll 15/3(1) 'Egypt. Abolition of Capitulations in Montreux Conference and Convention 1937' [‎600r] (1204/1220)

(e) Piopoi t/on o f Egyptian to European Judges (continued).
Finally, XIaktam Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. again emphasised the need for satisfying the
Egyptian wish to equalise the number of European and Egyptian judges in the
Mixed Courts loi the puipose of training Egyptian judges for their duties at
^the end of the transition regime.
.l/ 7 \ Beckett again advised caution and suggested that it would be unwise
to go too fast. He urged the need for presenting simple proposals to the conference
when it met if long discussions were to be prevented.
VI .—Period of Transition Regime (see IV above).
The Secretary of State visited Nahas Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at the Dorchester Hotel in the
afternoon of the 28th August in order to talk on various matters. The question
of the length of the transition regime for the Mixed Courts was discussed.
Nahas Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. urged that the period should be as short as possible and stated that
he thought eight or, at the most, ten years should be sufficient. He repeated the
arguments used by the Egyptian representatives at the meeting in the morning.
The Secretary of State, on his side, urged the need for a longer period and
pressed for fifteen years. He said that the French Ambassador had expressed
some anxiety to him that very morning regarding the period of the transition
regime. After some discussion it appeared that Nahas Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would close
at twelve years at once. During these discussions Amin Osman Bey told
Mr. Beckett that he thought His Majesty's Government could get twelve years
if they closed at once, though it was just possible that after a day or two Nahas
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would come up to fifteen years. This, however, was doubtful and in the
nature of a gamble. Moreover, if we got Nahas to accept too long a period
Mohamed Mahmud and other non-Government members of the delegation would
use it as a ground for stumping the country and starting a campaign against
Nahas and this would be bad for the treaty. After private reference to
Mr. Beckett, who told the Secretary of State what Amin Osman Bey had said and
gave the opinion that twelve years was long enough to maKe it worth while
establishing the transition period, and that foreign Governments and others would
probably be relieved at finding the period was not shorter, Mr. Eden decided that
on balance the wisest course was to close at twelve years. He thought that the
French Ambassador would in reality be quite relieved at the period being so long,
as he had given the impression that he thought the Mixed Courts would disappeai
almost immediately. , .. . . i
Mr. Eden, therefore, informed Nahas Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that he would accept twelve
years, and this period was agreed to.
Annex.
Memorandum with reqard to the Capitulations Provisions of the Treaty of
A lliance.
Communicated to Members of Egyptian Government ^IjZ'omXetRecZd
discussed in Meeting with them on August 28, at Foreign Office (see
of Meeting).
TTTF abolition of Capitulations and the institution of a transitional Mixed
Court regime will necessitate the ^nature and rati f ® r a thes ° e thil ; gs
and the ^ ^ wl ,l be necessary for a conference of the
capiuilatory Powers to be convoked or whether^the treaty - can te
negotiated through the d^Jomatic c annel ^ V diplomatic channel
United Kmgdom V f telec's^ if th/change is to be brought
are so slow that a conterence ian Gov e rn ment desire,
about as soon as both they and sJP it win, 0 f course, be for the Egyptian
3. Assuming there s to be a c “™^ estl0U is where and at what date the
Government to convoke it. T rpo -ards the place, the choice seems to lie
conference should be convoked. As regaids me piace,