Reports and papers of the Egyptian Administration Committee [‎22r] (43/108)

SIR RONALD GRAHAM replied that in the first eventuality a
considerable Department would certainly become necessary,
as regards the second he would in any case at once start
the nucleus of a Department with one senior man in the
Foreign Office assisted by one with official experience
from Egypt. The department could be expanded if and
when required, but would remain under himself as Assis
tant Under Secretary and the Permanent Under Secretary.
This arrangement could hold at least until the end of
the war. He added that dissatisfaction in Egypt with the
Foreign Office re ime was confined to the Ministry of
Finance. Other Departments were perfectly satisfied and
he invited verification through the Advisers concerned.
THE CHAIRMAN thought that might be because the Foreign
Office left them entirely to themselves.
SIR RONALD GRAHAM demurred and pointed out that he had been
for some time in daily conference on the Gezira scheme
with Sir Murdoch Macdonald, adviser to the Egyptian
Ministry of Public Forks, and had been assisting him and
the London Delegates with the Treasury and Board of
Trade.
LORD MILNER objected, that another Under Secretary might come
without Sir Ronald Graham’s knowledge of the country, and
Sir Ronald Graham stated his conviction that it was very
desirable to have at least one officia.1 in the Foreign
Office with a person-1 knovrledge of Egypt.
LORD MILNER AND LORD CURZON were both of opinion that it did
not so much matter from which Egyptian department officials
were drawn so long as they had some general knowledge of
the country.
THE CHAIRMAN did not see hew specialise*.-, questions sue 1 , as
that of cotton, could be dealt with by an Official of how
ever good general knowledge from, say, the Egyptian
Ministry of Education.
SIR RONALD GRAHAM statec. that the Commercial department of
the Foreign Office was in full possession of a all facts
and figures bearing on the question, and had/good grip
of the situation.
He considered it imperative to support the High
Commissioner whole-heartedly during the present difficult
times.
THE CHAIRMAN though averse from undue interference, remarked
that it was nevertheless essential to have the adminis
trative machine reecy and working before the end of the
war, in order to face difficulties that were certain to
arise immediately upon the conclusion of peace.
LORD CURZON thought that this was r.ore or less provideo for
under Sir Ronald Graham's scheme.
In conclusion Sir Ronald Graham expressed his strong
conviction that the Egyptian Department should not be