Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎14r] (27/176)

25
14
«. *
eventuality of this nature must be contemplated. There has been, in fact, no
hesitation on their part in welcoming military co-operation whenever they were in
difficulties.
Ever since the armistice the number of British troops on the Canal has been
steadily reduced, until to-day there is only the equivalent of a weak brigade at
Ismailia, and, with the exception of one company guarding stores at Kantara, no
other Canal towns are occupied.
•: • The War Office have been asked to examine the question of retaining the troops
at Ismailia, and, though they have not as yet replied officially, it is understood that
they have no special desire to occupy the Canal yer se so long as there is no question
> * of withdrawing the British garrison from the interior of Egypt.
In the light of this brief historical summary, it will not be particularly easy for
the French to prove that we have infringed, or are infringing, the Convention of
1888, and until they advance more specific charges than they have hitherto done, there
is nothing to be gained by attempting to elaborate our defence.
(Signed) J. MURRAY.
APPENDIX IV.
Projected Improvements in the Suez Canal.
It is anticipated that improvements will allow ships of 32 feet draught to use
the Canal early in 1923 and 33 feet by the 1st January, 1924.
The opinion was expressed by “ Dominions Royal Commission ” in 1921 that the
Canal should be deepened, widened and improved so as to allow of the passage of
ships of dimensions 1,000 feet by 100 feet by 38 feet draught.
Other authoritative opinions, however, placed the maximum draught that would
be required to traverse the Canal at 35 feet, for which a depth of water of 41 feet
/ 5, w^ould, in the opinion of the Canal authorities, be required.
The present programme involves the deepening of the Canal to 12 metres
(39J feet).
The Canal Company propose to widen the Canal throughout its entire length to
197 feet, of which a width of 137^ feet will have a depth of 42^ feet, an increase of
depth of 1 metre over the present programme.
This widening should allow of ships being “gared up” at any point in the
Canal.
An important consideration in connection with the passage of very long ships is
the modification of some of the bad bends.
Increases in the dimensions of the Canal have progressed normally for many
years, the relation between the sectional dimensions of the Canal and the size of the
largest ship using it year by year having varied only slightly since 1870.
The prolongation of Port Said pier to prevent silting of the entrance to the
Canal would also have to be undertaken.
The total cost of the improvements is estimated at 100 million Egyptian francs,
spread over a period of six to eight years, commencing 192].