Reports and papers of the Egyptian Administration Committee [‎20r] (39/108)

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SIR MILIJE CHEETHAM was Ox opinion nn incrfi&so orf att,ontion
was envisaged "by Sir Ronald Graham; the other scheme seemed
to involve the doubling of the High Commissioner, of the
financial Adviser, and of other departments. He laid stress
upon the vital and permanent connection of Egypt with British
Foreign Policy* and viewed with concern the possibility of
foreign affairs and administration being dealt with by
separate departments, as also tho contemplated removal of the
Arab Bureau which was really one wing of the Egyptian Foreign -
Office under the direction of the British Foreign Office. He
would prefer an increase in the personality and prestige of
some of the British Advisers to the Egyptian Government. He
also oited the position of the numerous and important foreign
colonies in Egypt in support of his thesis.
THE CHAIRMAN asked if Sir Milne had eocpierieeib/^hat want of com
prehension and assistance from the Foreign Office upon
other than Foreign Office questions brought out by Lord
Edward Cecil in his Memorandum.
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SIR MILNE CHEETHAM as^ed how this defect could be remedied under
the proposed system and Lord Curzon explained the principle
of the opposite number.
.
THE CHAIRMAN stated that he had gathered that Foreign Office
direction was at present not only inadequate, but that the
Egyptian Government even acted without consulting it at all.
LORD MILNSRpointed out that what was desired was to find someone
to strengthen the High Commissioner in Egypt by holding at
his 'disposal specialist knowledge in London.
SIR MILNE CHEETHAM, while agreeing with this theory, deprecated
the establishment of two officials, in London and Cairo of
more or less equal prestige and possibly diverging views
upon any given question.
LORD CURZON remembered instances in which projects carefully
considered and approved by a series of competent authorities
in India had been over-ridden by the 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. .
LORD MILNER considered that one or two officials, not neces
sarily senior in the service, with live and up-to-date
knowledge of the country were required. Interchangeability
was not absolutely necessary for the formation of the
department, but he was an ardent believer in the principle,
the success of which he had had more than one occasion to
witness.
THE SECRETARY stated that he had enquired from the Colonial
Office and learned unofficially that the system of inter
change was not in vigour there, although two of the
highest offioials the advantage of considerable
experience in the Protectorate. The system had been
considered, but not adopted because (amongst other reasons)
of the apparent disadvantage of exposing juniors to possible
reprisals from a senior upon whose proposals they had, when
in London, too freely commented.
LORD CURZON asked if Sir Reginald Wingate T s views on the question
were known
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SIR MILNE CHEETHAM thought not. In reply to the Chairman, he
gave it as his opinion that Egyptian problems after the
War would be largely those of Foreign Policy, and that if
constitutional, they would probably merit Cabinet discussion
under whatever department Egypt might be.