Reports and papers of the Egyptian Administration Committee [‎7r] (13/108)

The Egyptian Educational Mission in Great Britain would also be absorbed in
the Department.
The composition of the new Department must naturally be governed by the work
to be carried out. It is all-important, however, to avoid the common initial error
of over-staffing, which makes neither for efficiency nor economy. Another reason
nor beginning with as small a staff as possible is that, as in all new Departments, it
is impossible to predict in what directions it will grow until some experience has been
gained.
1 he Chief of the Department, representing, as he will, a country more important
in political position, population, and wealth than some of the small independent
States of Europe, must have direct access to the Secretary of State. It will be better
if he is not called by a title which will give rise to any confusion as to his position.
As he and his Department are only placed under the Foreign Secretary as a
temporary measure, any title must be avoided which implies that he is an integral
part of the Foreign Office.
It is suggested that he should be called simply the Director of the Egvptian
Department, though in pay and position he should rank at least with ^Under-
Secretaries.
As he may at a later period be charged with more extended functions in regard
to the Near East, he should be selected from amongst those who have had long
administrative experience in Eastern countries and who have filled high positions,
if possible, in more than one of them. For the reasons given above, it is important
that he should not be selected from amongst the Foreign Office officials.
Ihe Department to start with might be divided into three sections. The first
to be called the Political. This would deal with those matters dealt with by the
Arab Bureau in Cairo and with the internal political affairs of Egypt.
The second section, to be called the Administrative Section, would deal with
questions concerning the administration of Egypt, legislation, finance, internal
government, irrigation, legal matters, education (including the Educational
Mission), public health, agriculture, &c., &c.
The third section, to be termed the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Section, would carry out all business
matters on behalf of the Egyptian Government, purchases, contracts, &c.
A legal adviser, if possible with Egyptian experience, should be retained to
assist the Department when required.
At first one official for each of the first two sections might be appointed, whilst
for the present Sir A. Webb’s staff could carry on the duties of the third. As the
work develops and increases the staff must be added to where the need is felt.
In regard to the personnel, when an increase becomes necessary the principle
which should be adhered to, as far as possible, is that the staff should be a judicious
mixture of officials drawn from the British Civil Service, who understand the
government of this country, and Anglo-Egyptian officials who will supply the
personal and accurate knowledge of Egypt which will be required. These latter,
and it is a point to which importance is attached, will only serve in the Department
for a limited period, say two years. When this time expires they will revert to the
Egyptian Service and their places will be taken by others. In this way the specialist
knowledge at the disposal of the British Government will be kept up to date and the
officials sent back will have a broader view of questions than they would have had
had they remained in Egypt. This system will also tend to lessen any friction which
mav arise between the Department and the Civil Service in Egypt.
I would urge that if it is intended to give effect to this or any similar project
it is essential that the matter should be taken up at once.
Minutes.
Lord Hardinge,
I submit herewith my observations on Lord E. Cecil’s note regarding the future
administration of Egypt. In view of the fact that a variety of questions affecting
Egypt have recently been raised, it is desirable that the Foreign Office should be
afforded the fullest information, with regard to the present situation in that country
from all authoritative sources. Apart from Lord E. Cecil and myself, who have
had opportunities of expressing our views, there are now in London the Advisers